













V 

* n ; \ s . s . v 




* . . \ * V * v 4 A 

' V 


. \ •* * . * .- “* • 


V 


' V. * . - 


♦ 

m i \ 4 

S. 






* 























































* 











i 



BY ISAAC T. HUTCHINS. 

•i 



WITH APPENDIX. 




) 

) > 


PRINTED AT THE TRANSCRIPT OFFICE. 

1 8 7 8 . 












I 





THIS LITTLE BOOK 
IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 
TO AN ONLY SON, 

BY A LOVING FATHER. 












PREFATORY NOTE. 


These sketches constitute a very small proportion of ar¬ 
ticles originally published in the Windham County Tran¬ 
script, and other newspapers and periodicals—extending 
through a period of over thirty years. It is published not 
especially for the public eye, but as a tribute of affection 
towards near and dear relatives and friends. Therefore 
the author does not esteem himself at all amenable to the 
general public. The author has affixed a short addendum, 
consisting of a few sketches from other authors, appertain¬ 
ing to family and friends. Also, a family chronology. If 
the friends and relatives of the author and compiler shall 
experience a tithe the enjoyment in perusing as he has in 
penning these sketches, he will esteem himself amply re¬ 
warded. 

The Author. 

Killingly, Feb., 1878. 




SKETCHES 


THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. 

It is, we think, a fact susceptible 'of proof, that the 
foundation of our government was laid, primarily, in the 
compact entered into in the cabin of the Mayflower. The 
early government of the State, as well as of the Church 
was based upon the Bible. Jefferson, in his “ Notes on 
Virginia,” confesses to have first imbibed those principles 
which afterward developed into his immortal “ Declara¬ 
tion of Independence” from the creed of a Puritan church. 
French infidelity had so impregnated the minds of the 
leading men of the nation, after the war of the Revolu¬ 
tion, as to shut out the recognition of a Supreme Being 
from our national Constitution. His footprints are, nev¬ 
ertheless, visible in it, from beginning to end. Ours has, 
from the first, been esteemed, and justly, too, a Protes¬ 
tant, Christian nation. Take away from the administra¬ 
tion of our national government all reverence for the 
Bible and its author, and all that is binding in the oaths 
administered in our courts of law, and almost everywhere 
else, would at once become a farce. Until very recently, 
the Bible has been read in nearly every common school in 
the country. The very large influx of foreign Catholic 
population has occasioned an imperious demand for its 
expulsion. I do not wish to be an alarmist, yet I sincerely 
believe this question of the Bible in schools to be among 
the most momentous ever propounded, as, on the answer¬ 
ing of it may, perchance, depend the permanency, if not 
the existence even, of our free institutions. The question 
is often asked—If there are serious objections to reading 
the Bible in schools, why not yield a point apparently so 
trivial, and the more carefully instruct our children in the 
Bible at home and in the Sabbath School? It is not, dear 
reader, on account of either your children or mine, that I 
so urgently press the point. Let us, for example, enu¬ 
merate all the children of school age within a radius of 
half a mile from our churches in this village, and we shall 
probably find one-half, and perhaps more of them, who 
never read the Bible, either at home or on the Sabbath. 
The report of the National Commissioners of Education 
reveals the startling fact that three-fourths of the crimi¬ 
nals of our nation are either foreigners or the children of 



6 


foreigners. This class has come among us to stay. They 
are buying our land and building upon it. They are man¬ 
ufacturing our cloth and making it into garments. They 
are raising our food and cooking it. This class is already 
largely contributing to making, as well as administering, 
our laws. Our Catholic parents, as a general thing, are 
desirous that their children should read the Bible in 
school. As a general thing, too, the Catholic help in our 
families would gladly be present at our family devotions 
and hear the Bible read there, if left to their own choice. 
Sure I am that nothihg could more directly tend to under¬ 
mine the basis of our free institutions, or be more cruelly 
unjust, than to exclude the Bible from our common 
schools, when and where only so large a proportion of our 
youths can ever learn its sacred truths, which are able to 
make them wise unto salvation. The catechism and 
nearly all other religious instruction once esteemed indis¬ 
pensable are now nearly exorcised from our schools. Let 
the period be far, very far, in the distant future, when the 
stories of the manger and the Cross, the Sermon on the 
Mount, or the endearing appellation, “ Our Father,*’ shall 
also be excluded. 


PROHIBITION OR FREE RUM—WHICH? 

The temperance question has at length met an impor¬ 
tant crisis in its history. The friends and enemies of the 
cause have met in deadly conflict- Mo cessation of hostil¬ 
ities, nor, indeed, any security for either life or property, 
can exist until victory on one side or the other shall be 
achieved. The combatants on both sides are terribly in 
earnest. I have never listened to more awfully threaten¬ 
ing oaths than I have heard Irom those who have been 
thwarted in their business of liquor selling. This frenzy 
has already culminated in tlie burning of a number of 
barns in this County, and a number of head of cattle, and 
where human life as well as property was greatly endan¬ 
gered. One is now in the state prison, two in jail, and 
one under heavy bonds, for these crimes. The question 
presses itself upon us for solution, shall we purchase 
indemnity from these fearful calamities by allowing these 
miscreants to return to their work of destruction—not of 
property in barns and cattle, but of the bodies and souls 
of men? 

One fact is certain: we shall have no permanent peace 
or security until the question propounded at the head of 
this article shall be finally settled. The friends of tem¬ 
perance have special cause for gratitude to the last legis¬ 
lature for as good, and in some respects a better law on 



7 

the subject than we have ever had before. If our County- 
Commissioners will supplement this law by the appoint¬ 
ment of the right kind of men on the constabulary, who 
shall give full effect and force to this law, then will this 
important question be decidedly answered—in such a way 
that we shall all feel a sense of security unfelt before 
during a long period in the past. 

September, 1874. 


A QUESTION. 

At a minister’s meeting recently held in this County, 
the following question was partially discussed: “How can 
the late revivals of religion and the consequent additions 
to the church be best utilized for the further advancement 
of the cause of Christ in the world Quite a number of 
replies were given. Most of these had special reference 
to a careful course of ministerial instruction for the young 
converts. In the estimation of one, at least, the speakers 
partially failed in clearly pointing out the specific duties 
devolving upon young Christians of both sexes, so as most 
to advance the cause of Christ in the world. 

We esteem the practical answer to this question as 
involving the most momentous interests of the church of 
the future, and therefore hope that hereafter it may be 
more practically and fully answered. We feel confident 
that upon the proper employment of the talents of the 
whole church depends its future growth and prosperity as 
well as its final triumph in the world. Never was the 
membership of the church of both sexes so well educated 
or so intelligent as now. 

High schools and colleges are open to all. These, by 
God's blessing, may all be made subsidiary to the advance¬ 
ment of the cause of Christ in the world. It is a gloomy 
fact that in the ages past, by far the larger half of the 
church had little more to do in the management of its 
affairs than those who take the vail in the Catholic church. 
They were expected to give a relation of their religious 
experience before entering the church, but no provision 
was made for the relation of any subsequent experience. 

We rejoice that a brighter and a better period is dawn¬ 
ing — that the paramount Pauline doctrine, that “ in 
Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female,” is begin¬ 
ning to be recognized. We exceedingly rejoice in the 
recent revivals of religion in our own village, and surely 
none the less because so large a share of it took place, 
through the blessing of God, under the preaching of a 
woman. Should she, as we hope she may, be induced to 
settle in the ministry here, we trust she may have the 



8 


privilege of voting in the church to which she ministers. 
I hope and pray that this vital question shall be here 
everywhere so fully discussed that the true answer may 
be speedily found, when not only young converts, but the 
whole membership of the church, shall know and do their 
whole duty. Then, we firmly believe, and not until then, 
will the prophecy be fulfilled that “ the earth shall be 
filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the 
sea.’* 

May, 1876. 


MRS. LIVERMORE. 

A lecture upon the subject—“What shall we do with 
our Daughters?” was recently given in our village by this 
highly gifted lady. I hear it spoken of as being of the 
highest order. I should have been delighted to have 
heard it, had it not required such an aeronautic pilgrimage 
to do so. The fame which preceded the fair lecturer had 
prepared our citizens to expect a rich treat, and their 
expectations were more than realized. I have long 
thought that among the strongest arguments in favor of 
woman’s enfranchisement was the fact that there is a long 
catalogue of ills that “ flesh is heir to,” for the cure of 
which none but woman is qualified to prescribe. The reg¬ 
ular apothecary furnishes no medicament for the cure of 
these ailments. The sexes went hand in hand, only 
woman took the advanced step, in introducing sin into 
the world. Both were driven from Paradise together. 
Woman must do more than she has hitherto done ere the 
race shall return thither again. Efforts for the regenera¬ 
tion of the world have, hitherto, been conducted as awk¬ 
wardly as a tailor would work in attempting to cut a 
garment with half a pair of shears. The signs of the times 
clearly indicate that the period is near at hand when the 
sexes shall work together in the regeneration of the world. 

We need one more lecture, to complete the course, on 
the subject—“What shall be done with our Boys?” I 
will make but one quotation from the advance sheets of 
what this lecture should recommend. It is this :— 
“ Parents, be sure to call the roll of your sons, even of 
your younger ones, often, especially after nightfall.” 


THE TEMPERANCE MEETINGS. 

It was indeed a happy conception of the friends of tem¬ 
perance which contrived and put in operation a series of 
meetings, calling music to aid in advancing the cause. 




9 

We esteem it equally appropriate that music be called to 
aid in promoting temperance as it should be to assist in 
any other religious service. We could have scarcely have 
hoped for a more triumphant success than that which 
attended the first meeting of the season in Putnam. The 
Hutchinson singers in no way disgraced the name whose 
.sons they doubtless once were. We were at the time a 
little inclined to criticize the great preponderance of 
clergymen among those who addressed the children. We, 
however, conclude to hold those criticisms in abeyance 
until we ascertain whether they are equally valiant in 
addressing their own adult congregations at home. We 
have indeed rarely listened to an abler address than was 
delivered by Hon Mr Brandegee of New London. We 
felicitate him on his success as Mayor of the city in the 
enforcement of the “Sunday liquor law.” We would 
modestly ask him in the language of another, slightly 
modified,—“Are there not seven days in the week—but 
where are the six ?” We can assure the Honorable Mayor 
of two things—that the “tear” is a unit throughout all 
the days of the week, and that he has ample weapons for 
carrying on the warfare as well as an ample theatre for 
operations. 

We had scarcely finished penning the foregoing before 
another meeting of the same kind, only perhaps a little 
better, was held in this place. Dr. Jewett, the veteran 
war horse of forty years’ labor in the cause, addressed a 
large audience as he only can do. Dr. J. has raised up 
and educated thirteen children wholly on temperance 
principles. His onslaught upon tobacco, as well as alco¬ 
hol, was as scathing as it was just. Probably no man 
in the country, or perhaps the world, has labored so long 
or done so much to advance the cause of temperance as 
he. May the choicest of Heaven’s blessings rest on him 
and his through generations yet to come. Hon. H. P. 
Haven, of New London, and H. L. Reade, Esq., of Jewett 
City, addressed the children most admirably. It now 
remains to decide whether the friends of temperance shall 
unite on the determination to vanquish the foe, or whether 
it shall continue as rampant as before. 

September, 1871. 


THE REFORMED INEBRIATE’S APPEAL. 

Friends of Temperance all, 

Lend an ear to the call 
Of a friend, though unworthy the name ; 
Ye Inebriates too, 



10 


My hopes reach to you; 

Though these hopes are beclouded with shame. 

I the poison have quaffed, 

Have caroused and have laughed, 

When my heart even groaned in distress; 

I have sought it again 
For relief of the pain, 

But the anguish it caused none can guess. 

I have often within 
Thought I’d ne’er taste again; 

But the tenifcter too strong has prevailed; 

Till a power from alove, 

Forced by infinite love, 

I trust my deliverance has sealed. 

This remedy sure, 

All may cheaply secure, 

By resolving to ne’er taste again; 

Then the pledge let all take, 

And the evil forsake; 

And to God be the glory, Amen. 


SABBATH SCHOOL CONCERT. 

At the Sabbath School concert in the vestry of the 
Congregational church, the Superintendent, Mr Henry 
Danielson, read a pathetic and beautiful poem—appro¬ 
priate to the subject of the concert—entitled “ How Jen¬ 
nie Found her Lord.” Rev L. Burleigh, who was fortu¬ 
nately present, followed with a short address, and then 
occurred an incident which, if we can repeat in language 
as graphic as we heard it, will make an item worth read¬ 
ing. With others of “our craft” we are occasionally 
found fault with, because, it is said, we invade the priva¬ 
cy of the family circle in searc.i of the raw material for 
an item. We plead partial guilt, but offer our caveat by 
pleading, in mitigation of damages, that items, such as we 
are about to record, go in part to furnish our daily bread. 
Now for the item. At the concert referred to, a gentle¬ 
man, now a resident near Boston, who lived in his boy¬ 
hood in our village—attended the Sabbath School here, 
and here first made a profession of religion—addressed the 
school in a very touching manner, relating some striking 
reminiscences of the past, particularly referring to the 
great revival when a hundred one Sabbath united with 
the Westfield church. After he closed, a brother begged 
the privilege of speaking just two minutes. His request 



11 


was readily granted, and he began by saying that he was 
in Boston some twelve years ago, at the time when its 
Court house was encircled by chains that it might the 
more securely confine the poor slave Simms. He called at 
the time on a friend who kept a meat market, and found 
him busily engaged waiting upon customers; but when 
the clock struck twelve he stopped short in his work, and 
commenced calling upon several old ladies, who were 
cleanly but cheaply clad—and who had filled a large bench 
waiting his leisure—to come forward, and he filled the 
baskets of each with a generous supply of small, though 
very palatable pieces of meat. The women left with 
smiling faces, apparently very happy. “This,” he mod¬ 
estly said. “is my daily habit.” Soon after this, Judge 
Loring, whose fiat sent poor Simms into the hell of sla¬ 
very, entered this market and ordered a fine pig which was 
lying on the stall, carried to his residence. The proprietor 
said to him: “Sir, you can never, hereafter, have anything 
more from this market while I control it. Never will I be 
guilty of furnishing sustenance to a man who dares pro¬ 
nounce such a decision as you have.” Children, said the 
speaker, the gentleman of whom I have been speaking 
has just been addressing you. We learn that the gentle¬ 
man referred to has recently, at the age of forty-six, 
retired to a beautiful village a short disl ance from Boston, 
and has there erected a splendid residence. If he shall 
see fit to censure us for thus publishing to the world these 
events of his private life, we reply that we do it in just 
revenge for his not fixing his residence where the founda¬ 
tion of his success was first laid. 


CONFESSIONS OF A TOBACCO USER. 

Very few, we opine, have a full appreciation of the 
unhealthiness, as well as filthiness, of the use of tobacco. 
Little indeed does the young man or boy think of what a 
train of foul spirits he invokes, when he commences the 
use of this vile narcotic. No matter how many times he 
is nauseated, or what retchings he endures, still he persists 
in defiance of all warning, until he is bound hand and 
foot, by the habit. 

Possibly some heedless youth may be induced to foregd 
the purgatory of becoming initiated into the mysteries of 
this soul and body destroying habit, and some other indi¬ 
vidual already introduced into the nasty practice may 
be made to forswear its use, by the recital of some little of 
my experience in the use of this slow but sure poison. I 



12 

say “ some little,” for sure am I that the half can never be 
told. 

About the time of my majority, I, with another, near 
my age, attended an academy during two terms, for the 
purpose of completing our education. At this period no 
young man’s education was thought finished until he 
could imbibe his quid of tobacco, and exhale its saliva 
scientifically. So we entered heroically upon the work of 
initiation with a determination worthy of a better cause. 
If Purgatory has sufferings a tithe as acute as those we 
endured in learning, we do not wonder at the Romanists’ 
peculiar aversion to it. After a long and painful disci¬ 
pline, we were both initiated into the awfully sublime 
mysteries of the tobacco chewer. We now, for the first 
time in our lives, felt ourselves to be men. It was not 
long before I could practice creditably in either of the 
trios of accomplishments, chewing, smoking and snuffing. 
I could exclaim in the language of the poet, 

I am engaged in a devilish cause, 

I snuffs, I smokes, I chaws. 

I continued these habits during the long period of forty- 
four years. Throughout all these years I was the bound 
slave to the habit—miserably unhappy if necessitated to do 
without it but one brief hour. During all this time I nev¬ 
er even for once enjoyed the natural taste of an apple, an 
orange or indeed of anything else. Never did I half dress 
in the morning without thrusting my filthy, unwashed 
hands into my pockets, and taking therefrom the vile 
weed—injecting it into my fetid and feverish mouth. 
Such was the horse-leach cry for more, more, that I rarely 
took less than three or four quids before breakfast ; thus 
becoming tremulous and irritable, especially if this meal 
was delayed a little later than usual. I was almost always 
spitting, and not always very particular where. I have 
been often asked for a quid because 1 hung out the sign of 
its use on my lips, teeth and clothes. I was almost always 
thirsty, and very often drinking. 

It is now some six years since I entirely es -chewed the 
article. I will not trust m f own judgment, but others 
tell me that I have grown fifteen years younger in appear¬ 
ance since then. I am now 70 years old. and sure am I 
that I never enjoyed better health than now. My food 
tastes natural, and relishes as well as in childhood. 

I have, as yet, said nothing of the present enormous 
expense of tobacco, and will now only add that had I have 
been, like many, opposed to the late war, I would most 
assuredly use neither tobacco nor whiskey, for certainly 
very few things, if any, pay a higher tax towards the 
expenses of the war than these. If, Mr Editor, this par- 


13 

tial and meager record of my experience shall deter but 
one from learning the use of this slow poison, and per¬ 
chance dissuade another from its use, I shall be fully com¬ 
pensated for penning these “Confessions of a tobacco 
user.” 


OBITUARY OF THE OLD HOUSE. 

The exact history of many old buildings, if faithfully 
and truthfully written, would be equally interesting and 
instructive with that of any of our most distinguished 
citizens. 

With your liberty, Mr. Editor, I will give you and, 
through you, to your large and appreciative circle of 
readers, some few reminiscences of the old house which 
Mr. Bates has lately removed—a part of which, I blush to 
say it, he has degraded to the purposes of a barn. 

This house was erected at two periods; the oldest must 
have been built from 150 to 175 years ago, by a Deacon 
Stearns—the first of the name who lived in this town. 
He lived in it quite a number of years. This house was 
afterward occupied by three practicing physicians—Dr. 
Walton, Dr. Fuller and Dr. Hutchins—during a period of 
about 110 years. Dr. Walton built the upright part nearest 
the street about 107 years ago. He was said to have been 
very aristocratic, appropriating the old part of the house 
to his slaves. He was withal a rigid tory. His son, an 
officer in the British army during the Revolutionary war, 
brought to his father’s house a wounded British officer, 
whom his father kept secreted until the war ceased. 

Near the close of the war, and at its darkest period, he 
was earnest and faithful in warning all over whom he had 
an influence to at once make their peace with the mother 
country, offering his kind offices in behalf of those who 
would accept of amnesty, assuring them that Cornwallis 
might any day be expected through or near this place, 
making his triumphal inarch from Yorktown to Boston. 
The news of his surrender, and that he with his whole 
army were being marched to Boston, created universal 
and almost unbounded delight. On hearing the news, Dr. 
W. turned deadly pale and was seized with violent trem¬ 
bling. 

That night he was waited upon by a large number of 
loyal citizens, who had resolved to eject him at once from 
the place. Through the urgent persuasion of Col. Daniel¬ 
son, and his own entreaty, he was permitted to go in 
peace, after promising at once and forever to quit the 
country. This promise he faithfully kept by removing 



14 


with his family to Canada, where I believe he died. 

Here allow me to say parenthetically, by way of appli¬ 
cation—(How much better did the enemies of our country, 
north as well as south, fare both during and after the late 
terrible war of the rebellion, than the same class fared 
during and after that of the Revolution !) 

Dr. Fuller next lived in this house and practiced in his 
profession only some eight or ten years. He, too, was 
wealthy and aristocratic. He obtained his property by 
acting as surgeon on board a privateer during the Revolu¬ 
tion. He lived in splendor, purchasing his liquors by the 
hogshead. He was an Episcopalian, and, ’tis said, used to 
carry his cake and wine in such quantities with him to 
church on the Sabbath as to supply most of the congrega¬ 
tion during the intermission. He afterward, as might 
have been expected, became very poor and died in the 
poor-house. 

Dr. Hutchins next moved into this house, in the year 
1785, and lived in it fifty-six years, practicing medicine 
nearly fifty years. 

A number of distinguished individuals were born in 
this house—but as the mention of the names of any of 
them might appear a little indelicate, and as you, Mr. Edi¬ 
tor, have agreed at the proper time to write the obituary 
of at least one of them, I leaye it for you, when the proper 
time shall arrive, to bring to a suitable termination this 
obituary of the old house and its occupants. 


THE LAST EXECUTION IN WINDHAM COUNTY. 

You gave, recently, a second account of the circum¬ 
stances connected with the last execution in this County. 
This statement is about as correct as those taken at second 
hand generally are. The writer of this was on the ground, 
and carefully watched evtry part of the process. So far 
as location, numbers, and the general demeanor of the 
immense throng, (I blush to say of both sexes) on the 
ground, this account is tolerably correct. Allow me, 
however, to say in an undertone, that there were reports 
of conduct, while the person was hanging on the gallows, 
which, if true, and I fear they were, would have made a 
Feejee Islander blush. When, however, this writer 
attempts to convert this terrible scene into a. means of 
grace, and even dates the commencement of a revival of 
religion from it, I beg leave, thoroughly and radically, to 
dissent. Taking into account the terrible scenes which 
preceded, and especially those which followed after, in 
connection with the event itself. I would sooner esteem 




15 


the battle of Bull Run a means of grace. Never were 
preparations for any event in this County so extensive, 
especially in liquors of every kind. So strong were the 
fears of the tavern keepers that they should in some way 
lose their game, that they clubbed together in hiring 
three men to watch the prisoner the night before the exe¬ 
cution. The throng was so vast, that long before night 
not a mouthful could be procured in the village, either to 
eat or drink, except water. Probably there were never 
half so many drunk at any one time and place in this 
County. There was, indeed, little sleep the night before 
or after within miles of Brooklyn. Call this a means of 
grace ! It was long ago said in England that an execution 
rarely took place that some crime was not committed in 
consequence of it, which occasioned another. It is, in¬ 
deed, a very little improvement, and indicates the tenden¬ 
cy of things, that the law now makes executions private. 
It would be an infinitely greater one to abolish them 
altogether. I have long been of the fixed opinion that the 
very worst use a healthy man can be put to is to hang 
him up by the neck. The Bible, it is true, teaches in one 
passage the taking of human life. 

We must however go back to the deluge to find it. Sub¬ 
sequent Bible history proves “ that if this be law, it was 
more honored in the breach than in the observance.” The 
certainty, far more than the magnitude, of the punish¬ 
ment most deters from crime. For example, let a man in 
New York city, who is plotting murder, count upon his 
chances of being hung. He will find that not one mur¬ 
derer in twenty in that city is hung. He knows, moreover, 
that if detecled, which he strongly hopes not to be, twelve 
men must agree in a verdict of guilty. 

Doubt in relation to the propriety of capital punishment 
is constantly increasing. Nothing short of the clearest 
and most unequivocal evidence can ever make a unani¬ 
mous verdict, which, if rendered and executed, can never 
be reversed. Let us look at the case of Watkins, to illus- 
strate another view of the subject. 

Admit what is propably true, that he was guilty of the 
crime alleged—yet it must not be ignored that he denied 
his guilt with his latest breath—could he not have been 
put to a more humane and profitable use than killing 
him? A near neighbor of his recently told me that Wat¬ 
kins w^as a quiet, industrious and inoffensive man. He 
was young and sound in body, as the crime alleged against 
him fully proved. Instead of the gallows, let him have 
been placed securely, and for life, where he could have 
plenty of hard work, plenty of low and unexciting food, 
and plenty of pure water. More than all, let a woman 


16 

never pass athwart his vision. I now ask, deferentially, 
might not the course I have indicated have been possibly 
the better one? I have but just entered upon the dis¬ 
cussion of the subject, but for the present pause for 
reply. 

November,, 1871. 


[From the Norwich Bulletin.] 

THE PROPOSED SOLDIERS’ MONUMENT—A PRACTICAL 
SUGGESTION. 

Mr. Editor :—I rejoice exceedingly that the citizens of 
Norwich have in contemplation the erection of a monu¬ 
ment to the memory of those who went forth from 
among you, and who nobly laid down their lives during 
the late terrible conflict. ’Tis an act of .but the simplest 
justice, as well as eminently fitting, that you should do 
so, and that the work should be consummated without 
any unnecessary delay. It is, however, of paramount 
importance to decide correctly what that monument shall 
be. I will not arrogate the office of dictating, but will 
venture to express the strong hope that you will in some 
way make it utilitarian. I will not believe until I am 
compelled to that at this j ost meridian of the nineteenth 
century the philanthropic citizens of your Christian city 
will so retrograde into heathenish antiquity as to be satis¬ 
fied with a senseless pile of stone and mortar. There was, 
perhaps, once some semblance of reason for this useless 
outlay by furnishing food and employment for the hungry 
and the idle. We, however, are afflicted with no such 
excess of unemployed labor. The most striking features 
which distinguish modern from ancient civilization are 
its utilitarian as well as its humanitarian institutions. The 
citizens of Norwich did themselves especial honor when 
they erected a schoolhouse and chapel for the freedmen in 
Georgia. Let them now erect a substantial building for 
the education, and board, if need be, of the children of 
those who fell in the service of their country, or a hospi¬ 
tal for those who were maimed in the war. Let the 
names of all those who fell in the service of their country 
be ineffaceably inscribed upon the inner walls of the build¬ 
ing. Thus you may at one and the same time perform 
the double duty of perpetuating the memory and record 
of your fallen heroes, and at the same time approximate 
t in some small degree towards the performance of that pa¬ 
rental duty which this cruel war has developed upon you. 

If these suggestions need an apology, I can offer none 



17 

save that involved in my signature. Septuagenarian. 

[Some practical suggestions upon the subject of the pro¬ 
posed soldiers’ monument, from the pen of a country 
reader, whose intellect and years entitle him to respect, 
are published in our columns this morning.—Ed.] 


DISTINGUISHED CLERGYMEN IN WINDHAM COUNTY. 

Mr. Editor :—You recently published some sketches of 
life and character from the pen of Grace Greenwood, 
which suggests to me the idea that could some pen, com¬ 
petent to the work, be induced to gather up some of the 
fragmentary reminiscences of distinguished clergymen in 
our County, they might be made very interesting as well 
as valuable to those who shall come after us. The time 
for making this ^record will soon be past—for all those 
competent to male it will have passed awa} r . Among the 
distinguished clergymen in our County the names of Dr. 
Benedict, Dr. Whitney, Dr. Welch, Dr. Dow, Rev. Mr. 
Day, and last, though by no means least, Rev. Mr. Whit¬ 
more, whose church and congregation were the largest in 
the County when he left it. The church is less and the 
congregation is now but little larger than it w T as then. 

DR. WHITNEY. 

I propose in this paper to try to snatch from oblivion an 
incident or two relating to Dr. Whitney. He was a minis¬ 
ter in Brooklyn—I think between sixty and seventy years 
—and died some forty years ago between ninety and one 
hundred years of age. The first time I ever recollect see¬ 
ing him was at a meeting of the ministers of the County, 
who were mostly entertained at my father’s house, Dr. 
Whitney among the rest. He wore a large wig—his head 
being entirely bald. Rarely was I ever more frightened 
than when he, through mistake, peered his wigless head 
into the room where I—a very small boy—was in bed. 
The preparations for this solemn convocation were upon a 
scale of munificence little dreamed of in these days of 
teetotalism. Decanters of almost every kind of liquor 
were ranged in due order. Not less than a peck of loaf 
sugar was cut up for the occasion. Paper tobacco and 
pipes with stems eighteen inches long, tipped with paint, 
completed that part of the entertainment. 

Dr. Whitney was esteemed a very able preacher, and 
one of the most amiable and genial companions; always 
ready with a story exactly adapted to the case in hand. 



18 

The following anecdote of him will go far in establishing 
this trait of character. 

Walking out one morning, he came athwart a neighbor 
engaged in shoveling and carrying away the rich earth by 
the road side of the Dr.’s mowing. This neighbor owned 
the opposite side of the road, and had withal a very dark 
complexion. Dr. W. addressed him in the blandest man¬ 
ner, saying: “You remind me, sir, of a boy who was in the 
daily habit of carrying his basin of bread and milk into 
the orchard near the house, seating himself upon a rock 
and eating it. His mother, watching the operation, 
observed a large black snake reach its head over into the 
dish and begin to eat. The snake being very greedy 
reached his head over to the boy’s side, whereupon he 
struck the snake a sound blow over the head, exclaiming 
as he did so, ‘Keep your own side, you black dog.’” The 
Dr. bade him good morning and passed along. I hardly 
need add that this neighbor at* once changed his occupa¬ 
tion. There are men in Brooklyn—at least, there is one 
man there who to my knowledge is in possession of a 
large fund of reminiscences of this same Dr. Whitney, as 
well as numerous other celebrities of our County, and 
knows exactly how to relate them. If this shall call him 
forth, you, Mr. Editor, will not, I am sure, regret publish¬ 
ing this, my prosy lucubration. 

May 25, 1869. 


DR. DOW. 

Few clergymen in this County, or State even, whose mem¬ 
ory is still cherished with a fonder recollection, or whose 
virtues are more deeply enshrined in the hearts of all that 
knew him, than are those of the late Dr. Dow, late of 
Thompson. He died some twenty years ago, after a labo¬ 
rious ministry of about fifty-five years, not far from eighty 
years of age. He was very small in stature, but one of the 
most intellectual and eloquent clergymen in the County. 
He was quite young when he came to Thompson, and had 
withal a very boyish appearance. My father was taking 
his Saturday evening meal of bread "and cider and hog’s 
head, (bye the bye a favorite meal in days of yore) after a 
laborious day among his patients. A boy entered and 
took his seat. My father dreaded his errand, fearing he 
h id g >t to ride off again. Soon, however, the boy inquired 
if preaching was expected here the next day ; and being 
answered affirmatively, he said he had come for the 
purpose of supplying the pulpit. My mother already sus¬ 
pecting the state of the case, had begun to remove the 
dishes preparatory to resetting the table. Mr Dow, for it 
was none other, interfered by saying that if he had sent 


19 

word beforehand what he would have for supper, she 
could have furnished nothing better, for he was particu¬ 
larly fond of minister's fare. 

Dr. Dow’s mode of delivery was peculiar to himself. 
His utterance was sententious and exceedingly effective. 
His texts were short, sometimes consisting of but a word, 
and such as other ministers would rarely think of. Such 
was his whole manner and such his earnestness that he 
rarely failed to enlist the undivided attention of his audi¬ 
ence. He was among the earliest and strongest defenders 
of the old school system of theology, and was one of the 
first projectors of the East Windsor, now Hartford, Theo¬ 
logical Seminary—under the leadership of Dr. Tyler, and 
against the new school as taught by Dr. Taylor at New 
Haven. 

It is an anomalous fact and difficult to be accounted for, 
that Theological disputes are sharp and incisive in propor¬ 
tion to the narrowness of the space which divides the liti¬ 
gants. The strongest point of divergance appeared to me 
little more than answering the question, which started 
first—the prodigal on his return or the father who met 
him ? Drs. Taylor and Tyler died during the same year. 
Dr. Rufus Clark, at the annual meeting of the Congrega¬ 
tional Union at New York, pronounced a eulogy upon 
them-, wherein he said that Dr. Taylor fought valiantly 
and effectively under the banner inscribed, “Work out 
your own salyation”—while Dr. Tyler fought no less suc¬ 
cessfully under that inscribed, “For it is God that work- 
etli in you,” and doubtless both have already heard the 
welcome plaudit, “Well done, good and faithful servants.” 

I by no means would condemn these discussions, pun¬ 
gent and even acrimonious as they often were. Dr. Dow, 
like many other clergymen of the standing order, was 
exceedingly opposed to the introduction of Methodism 
within what he esteemed his jurisdiction. Hoping either 
to divert or neutralize their influence, he attended one of 
their meetings, took part in it, and when the anxious 
were invited forward for prayers he went forward among 
the rest. ’Tis said that he for once was thoroughly prayed 
for, and furthermore ’twas believed that those prayers 
were answered, for report has it that his opposition to 
Methodism thereafter ceased. If I may be indulged a 
trifling digression, I will parenthesize a word by just 
expressing the strong hope that neither the two Tract 
societies, the two branches of the Presbyterian church, 
nor the two branches of the Methodist church will for the 
present, at least, attempt a reunion. 

The trial to reunite, recently attempted by the two Tract 
Societies, and which so signally failed, should afford both 


20 


a lesson and a precedent. It may be said of many, per¬ 
haps most, of our religious organizations, as was said of 
Gideon’s army, “The people are yet too many.” The 
period is yet far, very far in the future when “the watch¬ 
men shall all see eye to eye.” Dr. Dow did more than 
perhaps any other individual towards the establishment 
of East Windsor Theological Seminary. I should seriously 
deprecate the event which should ever unite that and the 
New Haven school into one. Both organizations have 
already done, and are destined in the future to do, a vast 
amount of good. 

Dr. Dow was valiant and outspoken in his opposition to 
Masonry. His sermon from the text—“ If ye will inquire, 
inquire ye,” wherein he fully exposed the hideousness 
and deformity as well as arrant hypocrisy of this pre¬ 
tended “handmaid of religion.*’ This gigantic evil still 
continues to flourish, and still flaunts its arrant preten¬ 
sions. Hon. Henry Wilson has recently said that the 
greatest danger to our free institutions now existing is 
from the vast accumulations of wealth in the hands of a 
few individuals and soulless corporations. 1 think other¬ 
wise. I a hundred times more dread the fearfully increas¬ 
ing influence of secret organizations. To any young man 
who has any thought of ever becoming a Mason, I would 
particularly recommend, before doing so, the perusal of a 
book on the subject of Masonry recently published by 
Rev. Dr. Phinney, late president of Oberlin College—one 
of the most eminent revival preachers in the country, if 
not the world. Talk about dancing—I must, however, 
cease digressing, if I would ever finish. Allow me just to 
say in passing, that ’tis a gloomy reflection that so few 
Elishas are found on whom the mantles of those departed 
Elijahs can worthily fall. 

Dr. Dow scarcely ever used any notes other than a scrap 
of paper not larger than his very small hand. He 
demurred strenuously against writing out in full his semi¬ 
centennial sermon, but finally yielded. It was afterward 
published, together with a hymn sung on the occasion, 
and written by the gifted mother of your gifted corre¬ 
spondent Z. I wish she would send you a copy of it for 
insertion in the Transcript — together with such other 
reminiscences as her mother is so well qualified to furnish. 
Dr. Dow worthily wore the harness to the last, preaching 
a funeral sermon on the day of his death. Servant of 
God, farewell. 

June, 1869. - 

An unfortunate hallucination almost universally pre¬ 
vailed among our New England ancestry, manifesting 



21 

itself in a desire to place nearly all their churches on the 
highest point of land in the region. The fortunate excep¬ 
tions are those where no such eminence could be found. 
Two reasons have been assigned for this practice : First— 
an unhallowed desire that their steeples might be seen a 
at a great distance. The other, which we would fain hope 
was the true one, was, that in the event of a sudden inva¬ 
sion of savages—which was not infrequent—an alarm 
might more readily bp given. It is a fact well authenti¬ 
cated that our pilgrim ancestors were in the constant habit 
of carrying their guns with them to church. 

Unfortunately for these churches and the villages which 
sprang up about them, railroads and water privileges are 
both, almost always, in valleys. Hence many—indeed, 
most—of our ancient New England villages are now either 
stationary or are growing less populous. This state of 
things has probably had some influence in many places in 
making the pastorate more brief than formerly. 

REV. MR. RROWN. 

A Mr. Brown was among the first ministers in North 
Killingly, now East Putnam. I know little of him except¬ 
ing that he was a very staid and moral sort of a man. He 
lived near the top of what we, some of us, at least, know 
to be a very long hill near the church. In an unguarded 
moment he agreed to furnish cider if his neighbors would 
work on that hill. One of them, a parishioner, I am sorry 
to say imbibed a little too freely, making him extremely 
loquacious and a little profane withal. Mr. Brown, as 
was his bounden duty, reproved him sharply for his pro¬ 
fanity. The culprit humbly confessed his fault, promis¬ 
ing amendment, at the same time declaring how well he 
liked to hear him preach—“ but,” said he, “there’s my 
wife, a d—d fool—had rather hear Burroughs.” Mr. 
Brown was succeeded by 

REV. MR. DODGE. 

By what I have heard of him I should think he was a 
very singular sort of man. .Among these singularities 
was one well authenticated—that he had the audacity to 
demand an increase of salary when he was already receiv¬ 
ing the enormous sum of $200 per year. His i arishioners 
stoutly demurred, claiming that the salary, already large, 
was materially increased by private donations. Soon after, 
Mr. D. read from the pulpit what he claimed a full list of 
all the presents he had ever received, alternating by read¬ 
ing one line in low bass, and the next in finest treble, thus: 

“ Samson Howe, a junk of beef; 

Nell Alexander, a few little fishes; 


22 


Josiah Dean, a pair of shoes; 

David Copp, a goose.” 

Mr. Dodge was, I think, succeeded by 

REV. MR. ATKINS. 

He had been a teacher for some years before entering 
the ministry. He was highly educated and, as was usual 
in his day, he fitted many for college during his ministry. 
He also often taught the district school to eke out his 
scanty support. He was very gentlemanly in his deport¬ 
ment, and exceedingly beloved by all. When nearly three *» 
score and ten years old he lost his wife. As was highly 
proper and fitting, after waiting a suitable time, he essayed 
to marry again. His relatives, learning his bias, strongly 
remonstrated against it, on account especially of his old 
age. He with mildness and decision harmoniously blended, 
replied to them nearly on this wise: 

‘ ‘ Love has oft been compared to fire, 

Hence, both burn the freer, the older and dryer; 

So, without your consent, I must try her.” 

He was soon married, and his last years were peaceful 
and pleasant. His ministry, taken together, was rather 
uneventful, and with the exception of one marriage cere¬ 
mony which he performed, nothing occurred during it 
which will make his name famous during long years to 
come. 

November, 1869. - 

The names of Rev. Ludouvioees Weld of Hampton, of 
Rev. Moses C. Welch, D. D.. of Mansfield, and of Rev 
Joel Benedict, D. D., of Plainfield, are held in fondest rec¬ 
ollection by the older class in these several towns and 
throughout the county. Of these, as well as of other emi¬ 
nent clergymen of a former period, it may as of old be 
truthfulty said: “There were giants in those days.” 

REV. MR. WELD. 

Mr. Weld must have been dead some fifty years. He 
was a man of a taciturn temperament; of strong and 
decided convictions. He was esteemed a thorough theo¬ 
logian and one of our ablest preachers. Mr. Weld was 
the immediate predecessor of Rev. Daniel G. Sprague. He 
was the father of Theodore Weld, who was ranked among 
the most eloquent men in the country, and was among 
the earliest as well as staunchest champions of the anti¬ 
slavery cause. He was a member of Lane Seminary, then 
under the presidency of Dr. Lyman Beecher. The faculty 
of the college passed an edict forbidding the discussion of 
anti-slavery within its walls; whereupon fifteen of its 



23 

leading students, young Weld among the rest, at once left 
the college. These, every one of them, like the disciples 
under an earlier persecution, “ went everywhere preach¬ 
ing the word.” 

I cannot forbear parenthesizing just here, that no age 
of the world ever witnessed more brilliant specimens of 
self consecration or genuine devotion to principle than the 
anti-slavery agitation drew forth, and rarely were labors 
for the cause of God and humanity more signally blessed. 
Hence, William Lloyd Garrison, who through long years 
of poverty, intense labor and persecutions, was branded as 
infidel and atheist, is to-day among the most honored 
names in the nation. His coadjutors in this glorious cause 
are legion. 

Young Weld had an appointment to lecture three even¬ 
ings in Philadelphia. A large slaveholder from the South 
through curiosity went to hear him. The lecturer’s 
onslaught upon the patriarchal institution was so tre¬ 
mendous as to exasperate this lord of the lash to such a 
degree that he resolved to assassinate him. He went the 
next evening armed for that purpose, but, as was almost 
always the case at that period, Mr. Weld was so thor¬ 
oughly protected the would-be-murderer failed of his 
purpose. Determined not to be thwarted, he went the 
third time. Such was the force and compactness of the 
lecturer’s argument, and such the irresistible logic of his 
conclusions, that the slaveholder became convinced, and 
like Paul, was converted on the spot. He at once sought 
and obtained an interview with Mr. Weld, and narrated 
to him the facts as I have stated them. He at once 
returned home and gave liberty to all his slaves, and 
became himself an anti-slavery preacher. This, I believe, 
was none other than Hon. James G. Birney, the first anti¬ 
slavery candidate for the presidency. 

% DR. WELCH. 

Dr. Welch must have been dead some forty or fifty 
years. He was esteemed among the ablest and most elo¬ 
quent clergymen in the County, or State even, and was 
most frequently called upon to preach at ordinations and 
on other public occasions. Ministers in those days (I blush 
while truth compels me to admit it) had failings very 
much like common men. He was a very little self- 
opinionated and sometimes inclined to be sarcastic. A 
neighboring clergyman, whose house had recently been 
burned, Was bewailing the loss, not only of his house and 
furniture, but of fifty written sermons. The Dr. charac¬ 
teristically replied that he would compensate him fully 
for that part of his loss by giving him one of his. 


24 


DR. BENEDICT. 

Dr. Benedict was settled in Plainfield about one hundred 
years ago. He prophesied his own speedy dissolution 
when looking at his prostrate church, which was blown 
down by the terrible tornado of Sept. 23, 1815. He died, 
I believe, during the same year. He was esteemed a very 
learned as well as pious divine. He especially excelled in 
his knowlelge of the Hebrew language. Like Moses he 
was slow of speech, but every sentence and every word, 
even, had a peculiar significance. He was classical in his 
language as well as evangelical in his sentiments. Plain- 
field could once boast of one of the oldest as well as most 
flourishing academies in New England. This popularity 
was attributable, as was said, more to the interest and 
judicious supervision of Dr. B. than to any other cause. 
Sure it is that the school began to wane soon after his 
decease. It was for long years a noticeable fact that those 
scholars recited their lessons best who were on the most 
intimate terms with him. The names of the Burleigh 
family and of the late Professor Shepard, of Bangor Theo¬ 
logical Seminary, still emit a fragrance, originating in 
this institution. His religious and moral character were 
without a stain. Few during long life were more beloved 
or more revered than he. 

My father, at the age of thirteen years—just ninety-four 
years ago—left home for the first time to study with Dr. 
B. At the first meal after his arrival, the Dr. asked him 
to pass him a piece of bread. My father, carefully select¬ 
ing the nicest piece, placed it by the Dr.’s plate. He, 
scrutinizing it carefully, asked my father to pass the plate. 
The bread was laid back. After looking at it again, he 
took the same piece, simply observing he thought it would 
answer. The lesson, my father used to say, served for a 
lifetime. Dr. Nott, late President of Union College, mar¬ 
ried Dr. B.’s daughter. On his way to visit that daughter, 
he and his wife passed the night at my father’s. In the 
morning (my lather had been called away during the 
night) my mother observed to him that perhaps as he had 
a long distance to travel, *he would prefer to pray on the 
way rather than wait for the regular family service. The 
Dr., looking from under liis shaggy over-arching eyebrows, 
calmly remarked that the fact that he had a large day’s 
work before him rendered not only prayer, but the read¬ 
ing of a portion of God’s word the more necessary, 
assured, as he expressed it, that “ prayers and provender 
hinder no man on his journey.” 

These reminiscences are gathered entirely from the 
storehouse of the memory, without a particle of aid from 
any other source. If. perchance, any anachroni ms or 


25 


other inacuracies shall be discovered, ’tis hoped that the 
reader will accept this as sufficient apology. The writer 
would further add that these sketches are prepared more 
particularly for the perusal of those who, like himself, are 
somewhat advanced in life. If these shall experience a 
tithe the satisfaction in perusing that the writer has in 
gleaning them, he will esteem himself richly rewarded 
for his labor. 

July, 1869. 


THANKS FOR A GOLD PEN. 

I was lately presented a fine gold pen, 

And will now for the first time try it, 

In thanking both of the donors again, 

Through whom I came joyfully by it. 

It is hard to decide which gave the most pleasure, 
The gift or the “kindnesses” rendered; 

For each will remain a delicate 1 reasure, 

And both will long be remembered. 

It is thus we may double the joys of each other, 
And our troubles and their’s may divide; 

By joining our ow n to the joy of another, 

So our sorrows are less when allied. 

May I long live to write with my precious gold pen. 
And my mind long preserved to direct it; 

And may both of you live to often again 
Receive a kind act and expect it. 

May the pen which errs not make a record of each, 
Under those who have entered before, 

Where sickness and sorrow can never more reach, 
Where troubles disturb us no more. 

Westfield, Dec., 1873. 


THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. 

“ ’Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours.” 

Few quotations are in these days oftener made than the 
words of Galileo, “ The world does move.” In order to 
give anything like a full realization of this movement, it 
is necessary to look backward a little into the past. It 
was my fortune, once in my life, to pass some six or eight 
months in Charleston, S. C. The geography which I read 
and studied in my boyhood days gave this city the envi¬ 
able distinction of being the most polite and gentlemanly 




26 


in the deportment of its citizens of any in the country. 
During a week or two after my arrival I witnessed noth¬ 
ing to contradict, but much to corroborate, this statement 
—unless it was, to me, the strange fact that more than half 
of what I was then foolish enough to call citizens were 
black. These, however, were the less annoying from the 
fact that a black man was never allowed to set his foot 
upon the sidewalk. One thing struck me as peculiar. The 
back yard of every house was enclosed by a brick w T all 
some "ten or twelve feet high—so as entirely to exclude all 
communication between them. Among my first expe¬ 
riences of the peculiar working of the peculiar institution 
was one somewhat on this wise: Being in this yard I over¬ 
heard beyond this wall most violent oaths and cursings. 
At the same moment, I heard the crack of a whip, and a 
delicate female voice uttering the words, “ Jesus, massa, 
Lord have mercy on me.” She was struck some fifteen or 
twenty blows—she responding to every one in precist ly 
the same words, only in a much weaker voice towards the 
close. 

I boarded at a hotel with some thirty others. A gray¬ 
headed colored woman acted as chamber-maid. One of 
two boarders who occupied the same room missed a small 
sum of money. Suspicion at once rested upon this woman. 
She stoutly denied it. She was most cruelly whipped. 
She still denied it. She was then sent to the house of 
correction, carrying with her money and written direc¬ 
tions to whip her, and if still denying the charge to sub¬ 
ject her to the operation of stretching. This consists in 
raising the body from the floor by the arms and thumbs. 
By enduring all this, she was so bruised and battered by 
the operation as to make her unable to get home. Other 
slaves brought her. She still persisted in denying the 
charge. I never saw her afterward. Soon after this, one 
of the two men referred to absconded, taking all the 
money of the other, thus proving beyond a peradventure 
the innocence of the woman. I could multiply facts like 
these almost indefinitely. A public auction was held one 
day in every week. At nearly half of these more or less 
slaves were sold. At one auction forty-two were sold— 
both sexes. Each was required to step upon a platform. 
The critical examination to which each in turn was sub¬ 
jected was brutal and disgusting in the extreme. I shall 
never forget the penetrating glance each gave to every 
bidder. An aged, gray-lieaded man was sold for some 
forty dollars. As soon as he was sold he hastened to his 
purchaser, saying, “ I can’t do well I could once, massa—I 
do well ever I can.” The purchaser gruffly replied, 
pointing his finger, “Hold your tongue, and stand there 


27 

till I call for you.” A mother with a little girl on each 
side of her were sold at that time. 

I owe the reader an apology for detaining him so long 
with the recital of these horrible and revolting details. It 
was scenes like these that first inoculated me with the 
virus of abolition. 

Here let us pause long enough to praise, exalt and mag¬ 
nify that Being who has, through the most terrific and 
desolating war that ever scourged this earth, brought to 
an end these revolting scenes. In view of the suffering 
occasioned by the war, we are forced to exclaim in the 
language of the poet: 

“ His strokes are fewer than our crimes, 

And lighter than our guilt.” 

Let us turn to the more agreeable task of contemplating 
for a moment the wonderful changes which have been 
wrought within the brief period of seven years. These 
once imbruted millions have all been made free. Some 
six or eight thousand, a majority of whom are females, 
are engaged in instructing them. A colored man is to-day 
Secretary of State of this same State of South Carolina. 
The Lieut. Governor of Louisiana is also a colored man. 
Nearly one-third of the members of the legislatures of 
several of the States are colored men. More than all, a 
black man occupies the seat in the Senate of the United 
States once occupied by Jefferson Davis. If any man ever 
deserved hanging, he was the man. I rejoice, however, 
that he yet lives to witness this sight—probably worse 
than death to him. To my mind, however, the crowning 
event of all is this—that to-day the fact is established 
beyond a peradventure, that our Constitution is to be so 
altered that the rights of all throughout our whole coun¬ 
try, including CONNECTICUT, are hereafter to be fully 
recognized. Let us close with the doxology—Praise God 
from whom all blessings flow. 

Febuarv 17, 1870. 


AN UNDELIVERED TEMPERANCE ADDRESS. 

Some few weeks since I was requested in connection 
with another to address a temperance meeting. The 
Transcript gave notice of the meeting. I prepared as 
best I could for it. The weather was so unpropitious, 
however, that I did not attend. Since then, I blush to 
own it, this lecture has been constantly clamoring for 
deliverance. As I have hitherto done, so now, I am com¬ 
pelled to appeal to my faithful friend, the Transcript, for 
relief, which it can afford by introducing a “transcript” 



28 

of my said address to its large and appreciative audience. 
It ran something on this wise: (To own the truth I never 
until now penned a word of it.) I had a near connection, 
some ten years older than myself, who, as I thought, was 
not nearly as good a scholar as I. I am ashamed to own 
that in my boyhood I often boasted of my superior erudi¬ 
tion. He had, however, one weapon which he rarely 
failed to use on every occasion with effect. He could 
remember things v hich took place before I was born— 
even the memorable day of my birth. Now I know you 
cannot believe me weak enough to think of inflicting 
another speech—after the eloquent remarks to which you 
have just listened. I shall, however, avail myself of the 
fact that I can remember longer than he who has ad¬ 
dressed you, and thus evince my superiority to him or 
almost any of you. 

It has been often said, and by many believed, that intem¬ 
perance is as prevalent now as it ever was. and that all 
former agitation of the subject has done little or no good. 
I shall endeavor to prove by facts fresh in my memory, 
and I shall adduce no other, that there is not now a tithe 
the intemperance in the land in proportion to the popula¬ 
tion that there was fifty years ago. The infant was 
then immersed in rum the moment it entered the world, 
and it was ever present with its aid in helping him out of 
it. Like a spectre it clung fast to him throughout all the 
space between. Trainings, town meetings, and assem¬ 
blages of nearly every kind, were supplemented by ardent 
spirits. Successful candidates for office were compelled 
to furnish free liquor, not only for their constituency, but 
for all others. In my boyhood days the free use of 
tobacco, as well as ardent spirits, was deemed an essential 
ingredient in the development of symmetrical manhood. 
The well-filled decanter must be placed before the clergy¬ 
man whenever he made his professional calls. The physi¬ 
cian must not fail to imbibe as many times as he visited 
patients. Neither weddings nor funerals could in those 
days be scarcely deemed canonical unless sandwiched by 
spirits of divers sorts. I recollect a wedding which took 
place some sixty years ago, on a very rainy day. Great 
anxiety was expressed that the rain should cease before 
the ceremony. The bride’s mother, having as best she 
could stayed herself with flagons, and comforted herself 
with apples, or perhaps their juice, walked forth into the 
pouring rain; turning her florid face upward, the wide 
frill of her cap falling backward, she exclaimed, “It is 
clear as a bell.” 

At the funeral of a relative, the customary viands were 
solemnly set forth. The relatives were called to take 


29 


something to prepare them for the sad obsequies. The 
minister, taking the lead, walked up to the table, observ¬ 
ing that he preferred taking it from the bottle. Suiting 
the action to the word, he raised the decanter to his lips, 
and gave it a long and fraternal embrace. The services 
commenced at 2 o’clock, P. M., by reading a hymn, two 
lines of which he rendered as follows: 

“Will waft us sooner o’er 
This life’s temporions sea.” 

I well recollect that there was scarcely daylight enough 
remaining after the services to bury the dead. One fact 
more, and I have done. I know a road about four miles 
in length. At one end of it a man killed himself as a 
result of intemperance. At the other end a man attempted 
suicide mainly from the same cause. Fifty years ago 
there were on this road twenty-five families. The heads 
of fifteen of these were intemperate—most of them drunk¬ 
ards. These, with the intemperate in their households, 
numbered some thirty-five individuals. There are now on 
the same road fifty families. I know of but one intemper¬ 
ate individual in them all. 

I close with the single suggestion that if any one present 
should ever hereafter hear the assertion that the temper¬ 
ance agitation had done no good—furnish him v ith the 
facts to prove his tremendous mistake. Let the watch¬ 
word of the friends of temperance be hereafter as hitherto, 
“touch not, taste not, handle not,” having “onward and 
upward” inscribed on our banner, and God will most 
assuredly give us the victory. 

May 1, 1870. 


GOLDEN WEDDING. 

It was my happiness, Mr. Editor, to be present at the 
golden wedding of Capt. James Blair and wife, at Warren, 
Mass., on the evening of the 21st inst. Rarely has it been 
my privilege to be present on an occasion equally interest¬ 
ing—an occasion made doubly so by the fact that I 
attended their wedding just fifty years before. The sep¬ 
tuagenarian bride was the daughter of Ezra Hutchins, Esq., 
formerly of this town, who was born, lived and died here, 
at the advanced age of more than fourscore years. The 
entertainment on the occasion was provided upon the 
most magnificent scale—such as can nowhere be surpassed 
outside of Massachusetts. The presents were rich, unique 
and numerous. A spleqdid gold watch and chain, a beau¬ 
tiful silk dress, together 1 with a variety of articles of gold 
and silver ware; also an aviary of birds of almost every 
variety and plumage, stuffed and perched in a glass case. 




30 

The assemblage numbered between fifty and sixty persons 
from various states, some traveling one thousand miles to 
attend. The aged bridal pair were very feelingly and elo¬ 
quently addressed by the two resident clergymen of the 
village, Rev. Messrs. Jaggler and George; after which the 
following lines prepared for the occasion were read: 

What wondrous changes have been wrought 
On all things here below; 

Changes beyond the power of thought, 

Since fifty years ago. 

How rapid too the flight of years, 

How ceaseless is their flow; 

What agony, what groans, what tears, 

Since fifty years ago. 

I witnessed your betrothal then, 

Your golden wedding now, 

And glad am I to meet again 
Friends of fifty years ago. 

God has in kindness greatly blessed 
Your basket and your store, 

And if I dared, I would request 
The gift of fifty more. 

But to His fiat we submit, 

Saying, “ thy will be done;” 

Not anxious whether you shall yet 
Live fifty years or one. 

May you and yours united be 
With friends called home before, 

And through a long eternity 
God’s matchless love adore. 

May all assembled here to-night. 

With each of those we love, 

Be all permitted to unite 
As families above. 

Novemler 21, 1865. 


[From the Advocate of Peace.] 

THE AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY. 

The friends of peace feel humiliated, though by no 
means discouraged, that the principles they have so long 
advocated have produced no greater effects than are now 
witnessed. When, however, we take into view the small¬ 
ness of the number engaged in the cause, and the extreme- 



31 

iy limited means at its disposal, we are the rather aston¬ 
ished at the progress already attained than otherwise. At 
the period of the war of the Revolution, or even that of 
1812, such a thing as an arbitration for the settlement of 
National difficulties was wholly unthought of. I have 
scarcely a doubt that the principles first promulgated by 
the Peace Society, insignificant as they have appeared to 
many, have already prevented at least one, if not two wars 
with" England. The foregoing remarks were elicited by a 
single paragraph in the late address of Vice-President Col¬ 
fax, at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, N. Y. In speak¬ 
ing of the International Arbitration now in session at 
Geneva, he said: “This Arbitration is a blow for peace and 
against war more potential than all the peace societies 
ever assembled on either side of the Atlantic ocean.’’ It 
seems that Mr. Colfax “remembers to forget” that the 
Peace Society first suggested International Arbitration, 
and has been proclaiming it through long decades of years. 
The writer of this has been a member of this Society 
almost from its beginning. When I look back upon what 
I have abundant reason to believe it has already done in 
preventing war and securing peace, I am filled with won¬ 
der and gratitude. The more so, when I reflect how small 
the number and limited the means employed in effecting 
the work. I feel a confidence amounting well nigh to 
assurance, that the period is not far in the future when 
war between nations shall become as rare as duel is 
between individuals. Laws for the settlement of national 
disputes will be as clearly defined and as binding as those 
for the settlement of personal difficulties. The objector 
may perhaps properly ask if the principles of peace are 
thus potent, why did they not operate to prevent the late 
terrible war of the Rebellion? To me the answer is 
obvious. War in its most cruel character has existed 
almost from the commencement of our national existence 
—one part of the inhabitants had made prisoners for life 
of the other. Such was the extent of this war , that it 
absolutely required all the vast expenditure of blood and 
treasure to bring it to an end. In the abolition of slavery 
at home, and its probable speedy extinction throughout 
the civilized world, I discover a bright omen of the speedy 
end of war of every kind, and the triumph of universal 
peace. 

June, 1872. 


DEACON GOODMAN VINDICATED. 

Almost from time immemorial, this story of Deacon 
Goodman has been periodically served to the public, in all 



32 

its length. Mary’s “solo” will in time give her equal 
celebrity with that other Mary who had a little lamb that 
went to school. .We have, we confess, some sympathy 
with the “leader,” whose ear is sometimes offended with 
discordant sounds from the pew. We are inclined to 
think, however, that if Deacon Goodman and all whom he 
represents were dead, it would not, irl every case, preserve 
and restore harmony. The course of choristers, choruses 
and quartettes, like true love, never did run smooth. In 
any event, the listeners have nothing to do but listen and 
pay the bills. As a partial offset to this story of Deacon 
Goodman, will the editor of the Transcript allow us to tell 
one which, if not so long, has the merit of being strictly 
true. 

We once attended a city church w’here the singing—if 
such it could be called—was in a large part performed by 
a single female voice. We have had the colic, the tooth¬ 
ache, and a fair share of the other “ ills which flesh is heir 
to,” but never, as we think, have we suffered more acutely 
than during what to us appeared this almost interminable 
infliction. We present this as but a specimen. We deeply 
sympathize with the minister who, in similar circum¬ 
stances, once said, “ Let us suspend worship long enough 
to sing.” 

Now, we of the pews—including Deacon Goodman—are 
desirous of making a mutual compromise with this “leader” 
and his professional singers, something on this wise: The 
party of the first part, solemnly agreeing to listen to and. 
if need be, pay for the singing, whatever it may be. The 
sole condition to be, that the party of the second part 
shall agree to bear with Deacon Goodman, and others like 
him, who are so antiquated as to believe that singing is 
worship. 

Let us take a nearer look at this minister and deacon. 
The minister, in making his parochial visits, alights at a 
house where extreme want and destitution reigned 
supreme. A drunken husband completed the misery. The 
minister stopped long enough to knock down the drunk¬ 
ard, then wending his way to the deacon’s, begs him to 
call the next day on this poverty-stricken household. The 
deacon did not wait for the morrow, but, richly laden, he 
started at once for the abode of want. After fully sup¬ 
plying their wants, he starts for home, and on the way he 
sings the familiar couplet, 

“ He helps the stranger in distress, 

The widow and the fatherless.” 

That singing was to him “true worship.” I ask in con¬ 
clusion, which could the church referred to best afford to 
part with; the minister, their leader, or their deacon? 


THE ELDER SON. 


During our late, somewhat protracted, ministerial inter¬ 
regnum of well nigh three years, it was our good or ill for¬ 
tune to listen to a great variety of preachers, both wise or 
otherwise.” During nearly a year together, a new voice 
greeted our ears nearly every Sabbath. Throughout all 
this time I heard no sermon which left so lasting an 
impression upon my mind as one from the text,—“All 
that I have is thine.” I can scarcely recollect a word of 
the sermon. I can here only relate the train of thought, 
evolved by it both at the time and since. I had heard 
probably scores of sermons extolling the character of the 
prodigal son, and rich and profitable instruction was 
drawn therefrom. Theologians have scarcely known 
what to do with the elder brother, unless to place him 
beside many other characters to teach us something 
respecting the intractable Jew. I was taught for the first 
time by this sermon that the character of the elder brother 
was equally instructive, and in some respects, at least, 
more worthy of imitation than that of the younger. It 
seems that the patrimony had been equally divided among 
the two. While the younger had been squandering, not 
only his property, but worse still, his health and character, 
the elder had doubtless been adding to his, for we find him 
“laboring in the fold.” He had doubtless possessed an 
unblemished character as well as a robust physical consti¬ 
tution. The father crowned these blessings by saying to 
him, “All that I have is thine,” thus clearly intimating 
that there would be no redistribution of the parental 
estate. The reformation of tl>e younger would not restore 
to him either his health or his estate, nor blot out the sad 
remembrance of the past. Paul’s persecution of the 
infant church tended to embitter his whole subsequent 
life, and make him feel “ unworthy to be called an 
apostle.” The Earl of Rochester’s conversion was doubt¬ 
less genuine, yet his religion could not restore his health 
or prolong his life. John B. Gough always has suffered, 
and doubtless will to the end of his life intensely suffer, 
in consequence of his early habits. The Sandwich Island¬ 
ers were so thoroughly converted to Christianity as to 
furnish the largest church in the world. Such, however, 
had been their previous degradation and their vices, that 
even the religion of Christ cannot save the inhabitants 
from probable extinction. This suggests the double haz¬ 
ard of entering upon a life of sin and prodigality. First, 
the hope of future reformation is to a great degree falla¬ 
cious. for although he may be thoroughly reclaimed from 
his evil ways, not even the blood of Christ can cleanse him 


M 

from the effects of physical transgression, and, moreover, 
that sins unrepented of will utterly destroy both soul and 
body. We are also taught the full import of the threaten¬ 
ing, “ The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children 
unto the third and fourth generation.” The vices of 
intemperance and of every kind of profligacy are trans- 
missable from sire to son. Finally, we are herein taught 
the value and preciousness as well as the extent of the as¬ 
surance, “ He who converteth a sinner from the error of 
his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a mul¬ 
titude of sins.” 

Westfield, 1875. 


A RESPONSE 

to the following sentiment given by Ex-Gov. Washburn, at 
the 150th anniversary of the settlement of Leicester, Mass., 
July 4, 1871:— 

‘ 4 Samuel Watson, the father and founder of the woolen 
manufacturing in the town of Leicester. Let his name be 
honored, for his enterprise has blessed his native town.” 


Isaac T. Hutchins, Esq., of West Killingly, Conn., who 
married the daughter of Samuel Watson, Esq., and wbo 
was seated by the side of his venerable father-in-law, re¬ 
sponded by saying:— 

Mr. President :—Although uninvited and unannounced, 
and withal almost an entire stranger, I cannot keep my 
seat while a father near and dear to me has been so highly 
complimented, as well in the address to which we have 
listened as here. I was, I confess, as one born to him out 
of due time; and, what may appear anomalous; I am hon¬ 
ored by being his oldest as well as youngest child. I am 
thinking that it is about time we dispersed ; else we may, 
perchance, like the three disciples, desire to make taberna¬ 
cles, and remain here permanently. It has seemed to me, 
while listening to the laudations of this locality, as if, 
through some oversight, a circuit hereabouts was omitted 
in the otherwise universal apostasy. Indeed, I cannot 
avouch for the truth of the assertion; but I have often 
heard it said that long ago the citizens of Massachusetts, 
both male and female, met, and, without a dissenting 
voice, formed themselves into a mutual admiration society. 
I hail, sir, from the land of steady habits,—unfortunately 
as steady to bad ones as good; the first State in the Union 
and probably spot on the globe where education was made 
substantially free, and will probably be the last to exorcise 
the foul taint of slavery from its Constitution. I do not 





35 


wonder, Mr. President, that you are proud of your Com¬ 
monwealth, among*fche oldest in the sisterhood,—although 
I have allowed myself to speak thus lightly of her. Rev. 
Mr. May was truly magnanimous, as well as eminently just, 
in his estimate of our Puritan fathers and their stern or¬ 
thodox religious faith. I felt myself personally compli¬ 
mented, for I claim to be a descendant of one of the pas¬ 
sengers of the Mayflower. Mr. President, did it ever occur 
to you that the two greatest discoveries made in the world, 
during the period you to-day celebrate, were made by the 
two sons of Massachusetts Congregational clergymen?— 
the one having taught us to speak so loud as to be heard 
around the world, and the other having instructed us how 
to send messages of love, thanksgiving and praise through 
the depths of the ocean, thus making “dragons and all 
deeps” to utter the praises of their God. Do you doubt, 
sir,—I do not—lhat both of these were rocked to sleep in 
their infancy by the music of Watts’ cradle hymns, and 
that both were in their boyhood faithfully instructed in 
the now nearly obsolete Assembly’s Catechism “ 

That one of these was thus early instructed in the Puri¬ 
tanic faith is faintly shadow r ed forth by his reverent repe¬ 
tition of a passage of Scripture, at the recent unveiling of 
a monument erected to his honor: “ Not unto us, not unto 
us, but to Thy name be the praise.” I will detain you on¬ 
ly to add that while thus taking a cursory retrospect of the 
vast discoveries made, and the signal events which have 
transpired, during the last century and a half, the inquiry 
comes unbidden, What shall come to pass during the same 
period in the future? We attentively listen, and the only 
response which returns back to us is the faint whisper, 
What? 


REMARKS AT THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAB¬ 
BATH SCHOOL IN WEST KILLINGLY, CONN. 

I trust you will pardon me if I briefly refer to some 
events which transpired prior to the organization of the 
Sabbath School in this place. This, in my earliest years, 
was a very sparely populated region. At my birth there 
was no school-house nearer than two miles, nor church 
nearer than three from this place. Still, I believe the peo¬ 
ple attended church more then than now. The feet, the 
side saddle and pillion supplied the place of the carriage. 
Most of the people in this vicinity attended church at 
South Killingly, some at Brooklyn" and some at what is 
now called East Putnam. I shall probably never forget 
the first time I ever attended church at South Killingly. 



36 

This was in olden time called a city. My earliest impres¬ 
sions of a city I imbibed here. As d emerged from the 
woods on my way thither, this city, set upon a hill, first 
attracted my wondering gaze. Its steepleless church, old 
and dilapidated as it was, inspired me with awe and rev¬ 
erence. I felt, probably, as did the poet when he said: 

“ Nor could my weaker passions dare 

Consent to sin, for God was there.” 

Mr. Stone, I am sorry to say, spoke a little disparagingly 
of this place in the Transcript. He is, however, doubtless, 
ere this very sorry for it. I have always felt like revering 
as well as honoring this, my Alma Mater. The people 
hereabouts began to feel the distance onerous and burden¬ 
some, and proposed to the brethren of South Killingly to 
join them in building a church about a mile this side of 
their village. This proposition was promptly rejected. 
Soon after this, a meeting was held at my father's house, 
at which it was soon decided to build a church here. A 
site was fixed upon, and within a fortnight from the first 
meeting the timber began to appear upon the ground. At 
this point, light broke suddenly upon the people of South 
Killingly. A delegation was sent hither announcing their 
entire readiness to accede to our proposition. It, however, 
came too late. The church, and school-house near it, 
were both built during the year after my birth, 1796. A 
large number assisted at the raising. Stands were erected 
where liquor was sold in large quantities, and a full supply 
■fras furnished to those who raised the building. 

I owe an apology for so long detaining my audience 
with these antecedent details. I arose to speak of Sabbath 
Schools. Few enterprises in our world have ever grown 
to so collossal dimensions from so small a beginning as 
has the Sabbath School. ’Tis, however, extremely doubt¬ 
ful whether nearly as much has not been lost, through the 
transference of parents of the duties hitherto devolving 
upon them, to the labor-saving machinery of the Sabbath 
School. Ours began under very humble and unpreten¬ 
tious auspices. We had a flourishing Bible Society, which 
made a donation of fifty testaments to the Sabbath School 
the first year of its existence. This we thought library 
enough. Quite a number committed more than half the 
testament by heart the first season. All that could read 
learned more or less of it every week. I venture the 
opinion that children do not spend one-fourth the time in 
preparing their lessons, or commit one-fourth as much to 
memory as they did fifty years ago. I beg you will not 
think me censorious should* I hint the fact, for fact it most 
assuredly is, that the manners of children have very 
greatly deteriorated during these last fifty years. May we 


37 

not hope that this anniversary shall, in some respects, 
inaugurate in this place a new era in Sabbath School 
instruction. First, that the exact learning and repeating 
from the Bible be restored, and the memory thus be more 
thoroughly disciplined and improved. Let us never imbibe 
the fatally erronious idea that the Sabbath School shall 
ever in any degree supercede the preaching of the word, 
or the duty of parents to thoroughly instruct their chil¬ 
dren at home. More than all, let love to God be faithfully 
inculcated, and that the strongest evidence of the exist¬ 
ence of this love is gained by exercising love, kindness, 
forbearance towards others. Finally, let the great truth 
ever pervade the hearts, and influence the lives of us 
all—parents, teachers and children—that we have all got 
to die, that we have all to live forever. 

Let us for a moment just glimpse at the wonderful 
events which have transpired during the last fifty years. 
The steamship, the railroad, the telegraph, the Atlantic 
cable, and, more than all, the abolition of slavery through¬ 
out our land. Casting a look forward, we tremblingly 
inquire, “What shall fifty years in the future develop?” 
The only response that comes back to us is the faint echo, 
“What?” 

The following poem was then read: 

’Tis greatly wise the past to scan, 

And learn a lesson there— 

A lesson which the dullest can 
In fifty years prepare. 

God has in mercy richly blessed 
This Sabbath School of yore; 

And here I venture to request 
This blessing fifty more. 

In weakness we this work began, 

As little could we know, 

Having no precedent or plan, 

Those fifty years ago. 

The Bible taught us all we knew, 

And all we cared to know; 

It questioned and it answered too, 

Those fifty years ago. 

The children we instructed then 
Are the gray-headed now; 

But most have passed beyond our ken, 

Since fifty years ago. 


May this same Bible be our guide 
Through all our journey home; 
And in a Saviour crucified 
Trust fifty years to come. 


[From the Congregationalism] 

RIGHTS OF CHRISTIAN WOMEN. 

One-half of our race are personally interested in the 
decision, and yet this half are well nigh powerles < in miti¬ 
gating or redressing these evils, if evils they indeed are. 
It does not in the least justify the wrong, if it be such, 
because, forsooth, man3 r or few of the oppressed ones are 
contented to remain thus humiliated. Slavery exhibited 
no darker phase than the fact that some of those subjected 
to it were willing to remain thus degraded. Lei us re-in¬ 
vestigate the subject. The Congregationalist has quoted 
twenty passages of Scripture, placing them over against 
each other to prove the subjection of woman. Did it 
notice that seventeen of the twenty were the utterances 
of the same man, and that all but one of these were 
addressed to churches just emerging from heathenism ? 
Paul was indeed an apostle to the Gentiles. These he 
described in the first chapter of his epistle to the Romans. 

Some of these were so degraded, even after their ap¬ 
parent conversion, that they became intoxicated at the 
communion table. We all know that heathenism, always 
and everywhere, degrades woman to nearly the level of a 
beast of burden. Is it strange that woman thus circum¬ 
stanced should need just such restrictions as were imposed 
by Paul? So long as the opposers of woman’s rights 
depend so largely upon Paul, they are, we think, bound to 
make him harmonize with himself. In 1st Corinthians xi. 
5, Paul allows a woman to either pray or prophesy, if she 
but keep her head covered. 

In Galatians iii. 28, he says: “ There is neither male nor 
female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.’* He here places 
the sexes jnst where they belong when both are alike 
imbued with the spirit of “ Christ Jesus.” Like the two 
parts of a pair of shears, both sexes are alike essential in 
the harmonious Christian development of the race. Wom¬ 
an took the initiative in introducing sin into the world. 
Sure I am that she must be brought to the front again, 
ere sin shall be exorcised therefrom. Paul was not alone 
in giving instruction on this subject. The last chapter of 
Proverbs describes a wife who did not always “ask her 
husband,” although he “safely trusted her.” It was said 



39 

of her: “She considereth a field and buyetli it; with the 
fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” A woman 
may buy land in the “Land of steady habits,” but she 
cannot sell it without the consent and signature of her 
lordly husband. 

“ She maketh fine linen and selleth it, and delivereth 
girdles to the merchant.” Here we find the wife manu¬ 
facturing goods, and disposing of them in the marts of 
trade. The husband here is by no means degraded. “He is 
known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of 
the land.” The husband is always most honored when he 
most honors his wife and allows her to be fully his equal. 

Let us glance at the New Testament. Anna was among 
the last who prophesied of the coming of Christ. Mary 
had the signal honor of introducing her Saviour into the 
world—man having no agency in the great transaction. 
Woman participated largely in the benefits of Christ’s 
mission on earth, and often publicly acknowledged Him, 
as she was the last to occupy His attention before His 
death. “ She was last at the cross, and first at the sepul¬ 
cher,” “His disciples having forsook Him and fled.” 
Christ’s first commission to preach His resurrection was to 
woman. Enough. 

I close by giving one specimen of the application of the 
Pauline doctrine carried out to its legitimate results. In 
the church to which I belong, during a period of about 
sixty years both sexes voted on all subjects appertaining 
to it, without the least inconvenience resulting from it. 
A new minister, strongly impressed with Paul’s views, 
caused a vote to be passed excluding the sisters from vot¬ 
ing, thus placing the whole management of the affairs of 
the church in the hands of less than one-third of its resi¬ 
dent members. During the last year, a petition was 
signed by 102 female members asking for the restoration 
of this privilege. This petition was rejected by the votes 
of, I think, less than one-tenth of the resident members of 
the church. I close by asking: Is the Scripture herein 
fulfilled, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye 
shall be free indeed.” 

September, 1874. 

LINES READ AT THE SILVER WEDDING OF MR. & MRS. 

S. L. WELD, DEC. 25, 1863. 

Amid life’s dark and cheerless seas 
There’s oft a pleasant isthmus; 

And not among the least of these 
Is a bright and merry Christmas. 



40 


Now “ Santa Claus” with liberal hand, 
His choicest presents pours; 

The child can hardly understand 
How he gets through the doors. 

Thus superstition long has led 
The infant mind astray; 

Nor has the light of truth once shed 
Its bright and heavenly ray. 

But sir, and madam, you well know, 
And long have known the way, 

Assured that all your mercies flow 
Through Him that’s born to-day. 

May you and yours all live to greet 
Your GOLDEN wedding day; 

And all on that occasion meet, 

With me, too, if I may. 

And when life’s journey is complete, 
To you may it be given, 

In one unbroken band to meet, 

“ A family in Heaven.” 

May all the circle here to-night. 

And each of those we love, 

Be all permitted to unite 
As families above. 


A STORY WITH A MORAL. 

We, a short time since, heard a story which very much 
interested us. Being intimately acquainted with one of 
the parties to the incident, we think its general interest and 
applicability entitle it to space in the best paper published 
in the County. The story ran something on this wise: An 
association of ministers assembled with a large church of 
a beloved and distinguished pastor. At an early session, 
an aged ministerial brother arose, and in lugubrious tones 
observed that he had always entertained the highest 
respect and affection for the pastor of the church where 
they were assembled. He was, however, pained to learn 
that, contrary to the plain teaching of Paul, this dear 
brother had been calling upon the sisters in his church to 
pray and exhort in religious meetings. He wished, there¬ 
fore, that immediate inquiry might be made, and if the 
charge were sustained, to administer such rebuke as would 
hereafter effectually protect the church from such gross 
impropriety. The accused begged that the proposed inves- 



41 

tigation might be postponed until the opening of the next 
day’s session. The request was readily acceded to. The 
accused called at once upon three or four of the offending 
sisters and asked them to, without fail, be present at the 
next morning's prayer meeting: The first he requested to 
offer, unasked, the second prayer, the next to give an 
exhortation, and the third to make the closing prayer. 
The requests were strictly complied with. The large audi¬ 
ence, with the exception of our aggrieved brother, was 
both surprised and delighted. At the opening of the ses¬ 
sion, the business assigned the night before was called up. 
The aggrieved brother aforesaid at once arose and moved 
an indefinite postponement of the whole subject. The 
motion was unanimously sustained. We learn that the 
subject of woman’s speaking in conference meetings has 
never since been agitated in that association. Thus end- 
eth our “ Story with a moral.” 

September, 1876. 


RECOLLECTIONS OF PROVIDENCE. 

Few places outside my own home have, from my earli¬ 
est recollection, during a lifetime by no means short, been 
of greater interest to me than the city of Providence. A 
brother next older and another next 3 ’ounger than myself 
graduated at Brown University. The older entered in 
1807, when I was twelve years old. Both died more than 
fifty years ago. The oldest practiced law a number of 
years in Providence. Thus circumstanced. I well remem¬ 
ber having the most intense desire to visit the place. At 
the age of fourteen years, on the 23rd day of December, 
1810, an older brother and myself started for town . as it 
was called, (it was not a city until many years afterwards) 
with an ox team. The weather was mild for the season. 
We went within five miles of the town the first day. Dur¬ 
ing the night the most terrific snow storm I ever experi¬ 
enced commenced. It has ever since been called “The 
great Christmas snow storm,” and will doubtless be still 
remembered by some of your older class of readers. We 
were all day and far into the evening in reaching the 
town, a distance of five miles. Both my feet and some of 
my fingers were badly frozen. The next day, being Christ¬ 
mas, was clear and very cold. It was to me far from a 
merry one. I stood nearly the whole day in the snow 
holding the horse while a load of meal was being peddled. 
Under these circumstances it cannot be expected that my 
first impressions of the place were very favorable. The 
object which most attracted my attention was the “Turk’s 
Head” in front, I think, of Whitman’s Block. It was a 



42 

hideous caricature, with the tongue protruding to a 
frightful extent. The next day. being wholly unable to 
walk, 1 was placed astride the sharp-backed horse on a 
small blanket, and started for home, riding nearly half the 
way across lots, on account of the drifts. I arrived home, 
tired and sore, about sunset, and perfectly satisfied with 
this, it y first, visit to a seaport. 

Not long after this I began to go to Providence, carry¬ 
ing farming produce and exchanging it for groceries, etc. 
I afterwards kept a grocery store some thirty years. Dur¬ 
ing all this time I was in the habit of visiting the city 
nearly once a fortnight, to buy goods. The change in the 
city since I first saw it is indeed wonderful; whether in 
every respect for the better is not so sure. It had then 
less than 10,000 inhabitants. I have been told, and I think 
with truth, that Rhode Island never had a State tax until 
after the Dorr war, and that the town never was scarcely 
at all in debt until many years after it became a city. The 
beauties and blessings of the credit system had scarcely 
been discovered in those primitive days of ignorancd and 
stupidity. 

It is now some dozen years since I visited Providence. 
I must confess to a desire to Aisit it again little less than 
it was before I saw it at all, some seventy years ago. I 
have had a strong desire to go thither by way of the 
Ponaganset railroad, but my hope already wavers. I have 
a number of relatives, and I trust, some old friends, in the 
city, whom I trust I may see during the approaching 
season. 

April, 1877. 


MISS LARNED’S "RETROSPECT." 

We place our “ Sketches" in abeyance long enough to 
kindly criticise a single expression in Miss Larned’s 
“Retrospect.” She says, “The Windham County Peace 
Society was organized in 1825, which disseminated most 
admirable sentiments. A Temperance Society, formed the 
following year, produced more practical results .” The 
last clause is the part to which we take exception. The 
Peace Society of this County was among the earliest aux¬ 
iliaries of the Parent Society. We do not just now call to 
mind any specific results achie\ T ed by our County Society. 
We remember that it was inaugurated by Rev. Samuel J. 
May, and that a dear deceased brother of ours was its sec¬ 
retary. We remember, too, that its membership was 
quite large, and that it flourished a number of years. We 
distinctly remember that Dr. Dow, of Thompson, once 
gave the annual address. He Avell nigh ridiculed the soci- 



43 

ety, declaring it utopian if not an unscriptural organiza¬ 
tion. I perfectly well remember Mr. May’s withering 
rejoinder, clearly demonstrating that if Mr/May was het¬ 
erodox on the Trinity, he was better informed, more 
scriptural and more orthodox on the subject of peace than 
Dr. Dow. Possibly Miss Larned is not so well informed 
respecting what the Peace Society has done, is doing, and 
is yet to do, as of the history of her native County. In 
the language of the poet, # 

“ Has she forgot or never knew,” 
that the American Peace Society first promulged the doc¬ 
trine of Arbitration as a substitute for war, and that by 
the application of peace principles our nation has been two 
or three times preserved from war with England. The 
settlement of the North-Eastern boundary question. The 
“ fifty-four forty or fight” imbroglio. More than all, the 
Geneva Conference, and the $15,200,000 as its result. Every 
dollar of this vast sum must be placed to the credit of the 
Peace societies here and in England, as well as probably 
preventing a sanguinary war. Will Miss Larned deny 
that these are “practical results?” We have recorded 
the results of less than half a century. If we ask what 
will be the results in this behalf during the century about 
to open, the only response that rel urns to us is—what ? 
Although at first untliouglit of. we find by what we have 
written that we have given one of our “ Centennial 
Sketches.” You will, therefore, Mr. Editor, please give 
us credit accordingly. I owe Miss L. an apology for this 
perhaps undeserved criticism, and also my thanks for thus 
opening the way for us to do but partial justice to one of 
the most Christian as well as most beneficent causes of the 
day or the age. If this Retrospect may in any degree be 
esteemed as some of the advanced sheets of Miss Larned's 
forthcoming second volume of history, it will tend to 
make us more anxious for its speedy appearance. 

June, 1876. 


CHEAP POSTAGE. 

The recent, apparently trifling change in the postal laws 
is a step in the right direction. It clearly indicates that 
this department will be still further improved. I am re¬ 
minded of a story of what transpired in England, prior to 
the period of prepayment, or cheap postage. A peasant 
girl was in the habit of receiving her letters from the post 
office. These she would bring close to her eyes and careful¬ 
ly scan, and then sorrowfully hand them back, saying that 
she had no money to pay the postage. This process being 
a number of times repeated, the postmaster, in turn, ex- 



44 


amined the returned letters. He found that by breathing 
‘ upon it and thus moistening it, a very fine hand-writing 
became visible. Upon opening, it was found blank. This 
appparentlv trifling circumstance first suggested the abso¬ 
lute necessity of cheaper postage. The true mission of the 
Post Office is its susceptibility of still further, and as yet 
perchance unthought of improvement, which has but just 
commenced to be understood or appreciated. The bold 
and blind heresy that it must; at all events, be made to pay 
its way, must be wholly ignored. Facts, however, prove 
that cheap postage tends in that direction. The Post 
Office is pre-eminently an educational institution. Wliat 
parent would be so unwise, not to say insane, as to require 
his child to prepay for its education before receiving it. 
The analogy may not be perfect, but it is suggestive. The 
cent card, which if I understand right, can be sent from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean for that sum. This will 
prove a choice benediction to thousands of the poor, per¬ 
mitting them to send the glad message—“ We are all well, 
thank God,” and for the like sum receive the response— 
“ All well.” 

For the sake of this peasant girl and multitudes like her, 
will not our members of Congress and other National offi¬ 
cials consent to the payment of the small stipend which 
would be required out of their abundant rceipts ? The 
question is often asked: Will the next half-century wit¬ 
ness as signal and as beneficent discoveries and improve¬ 
ments as the past ? I unhesitatingly answer: Yes, and as 
far greater as the human intellect is better disciplined 
than ever before, and more than that, further discoveries 
were never more needed. Among these undeveloped 
agencies, the utilization of the telegraph and Post Office 
in sending intelligence abroad throughout the land and 
the world, will stand pre-eminent. 

June, 1872. 


45 



I propose, Mr. Editor, to prepare and offer you, for pub¬ 
lication, a series of sketches of events which transpired 
within the past century, and mostly within my own recol¬ 
lection. Always provided that my health and strength, 
both of body and mind, as well as your patience and that 
of your readers, shall prove equal to the emergency. Hav¬ 
ing lived four-fifths of the period we this year celebrate, I 
must either be a poor scholar, or what is more probable, 
I may, through the infirmities of age, have become inca¬ 
pacitated for the service. Esteeming failure, however, 
preferable to irresolution, I shall, without further pream¬ 
ble, advance to the work. 

I have lived under all the Presidents of the United 
States, being born during Washington’s last term of office. 
My earliest recollections reach back to Jefferson’s first 
election to the Presidency, in 1802. The people failing to 
choose, the election was effected in Congress. Jefferson 
was the Democratic, and Aaron Burr the Federal, candi¬ 
date for the office. My own vivid recollection, joined 
with the testimony of others, will, I think, bear me out in 
saying that at no period of our national history, not 
excepting our late war of the Rebellion, did party spirit 
run so high as during this election. The contest was 
extremely close, and occupied Congress between two and 
three weeks. Alexander' Hamilton, although of the same 
political party as Burr, probably did more to defeat his 
election than any other man. Nothing but Hamilton’s 
life could atone for the injury. It has been thought that, 
had Burr been elected, he would have well discharged the 
duties of the office: His character was considered above 
reproach while he filled the office of Vice-President. At 
any rate, he was by no means the only one whose charac¬ 
ter, whose health, and even whose life was either seriously 
affected or forfeited by failing of being nominated for or 
elected to the presidency. Before his election, it was cur¬ 
rently reported that Jefferson would cause all the meeting 
houses to be pulled down, and all the Bibles to be burned. 
Such was the hatred of our Puritan ancestors to Episco¬ 
pacy, that they would not call our meeting houses churches. 
Jefferson’s thorough democratic views and practices w~ere 
extremely distasteful to nearly all the higher classes, 
especially in New England. It is indeed sn astonishing 
fact that the people of the United States, and particularly 
of New England, really believed that our Government was 



46 


altogether too largely in the hand of the people; and that 
its lifetime would be brief. When our national territory 
was not a tenth part the size it now is, Fisher Ames said, 
“Our country is too large for union, too democratic for 
permanency.” It is indeed no marvel, that such fears 
were honestly entertained. If we except the short period 
when Israel was ruled by a theoracy, history furnishes no 
parellel of a government so free as ours. Orators, both 
great and small, have been wont to ventilate their oratory 
declaiming upon the liberties of Greece and Rome. Dur¬ 
ing the palmiest days of both these places, the life of the 
slave was entirely at the disposal of his owners, and was 
daily sacrificed for the most trivial causes. I must obey 
the mandate, “ Be short.” 

February, 1876. 


ELECTION SERMONS. 

We notice that the Bulletin has recently given a sched¬ 
ule of ancient sermons. The list was prepared, we think, 
by Rev. Mr. Shipman. We are led to look in the same 
direction The first of the kind that came to hand was a 
volume of Election Sermons—temporarily sewed together. 
They were eight in number, all delivered before the legis¬ 
lature of this State and Massachusetts. They are all of 
tremendous length. The first was delivered in the year 
1786, and the last in 1801. These sermons not only treated 
largely upon nearly everything now embraced in our 
Governor’s messages, and in altogether a more dictatorial 
style. A few extracts from these sermons will indicate 
their general tenor. Here is an extract from a sermon 
delivered by Rev. Mr. Hart, in 1786, not wholly inappro¬ 
priate to the present time: “Your Honors are not strangers 
to the present alarming state of the public finances, and 
the necessity of restoring them to soundness.” 

Thank heaven, an “ expedient’ has been adopted which 
has removed the evil complained of, in the following 
extract from the same sermon. We are, however, 
astounded that within ten years of the time when the 
declaration was first promulged that ‘ ‘ All men were 
created equal,” such a sentiment as that which closes the 
extract should escape the lips of a minister of the gospel. 
I had, however, well nigh forgotten the attitude taken by 
the Tract Society upon the same subject. The extract is 
this: “Your Honors would be happy if they could devise 
some better expedient for the gradual abolition of slavery 
in the State, and at the same time secure society from im¬ 
proper and ill-timed manumission.” 

Recollect that Connecticut had the same fears that a 



47 

terrible convulsion would ensue from the abolition of 
slavery there that the southern states afterwards had. We 
have one, and only one, more extract to make from the 
same sermon. A trait of character here crops out, which 
we fear is not yet wholly eradicated from our country. 
Here is the extract: “ Happy the free and virtuous peo¬ 
ple who pay strict attention to the national aristocracy , 
which is the institution of heaven .” This quotation shculd 
be carefully read at least twice, in order fully to compre¬ 
hend its full purport, and the spirit of the' period which 
dictated it. 

One sentiment seems to permeate all these sermons, and 
that is, that the country was terribly wicked and depraved, 
and that nothing but the most thorough governing could 
save it from destruction. We have another large book of 
over 1,000 pages, printed in 1694. It is'filled with argu¬ 
ments to prove that kings rule by ‘‘divine right.” If this 
were so, kings should be created a head and shoulders 
above common people, mentally and morally as well as 
physically. Most of the ancient books we have seen have 
been permeated with a controversial spirit. In this regard 
we think the church has improved a very little. We close 
in the language of Scripture, “ And yet there is room.” 

February 15, 1876. 

POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE COUNTRY. 

We cannot, we think, do better than to again call to 
mind the political aspects of the country, from the period 
of Jefferson’s election to the present. No president was 
ever more severely criticised than he, and next to none 
whose name stands higher on the scroll of fame. The 
democratic element became so strong that a great major¬ 
ity of our Presidents, during the first half of the century, 
were of that party. The date of the commencement of 
the downfall of this party was when it gave the lie to its 
foundation principle, by advocating and upholding slavery. 

The war of 1812, with England, settled finally, and we 
trust forever, the fact of our national independence. 
Never but once has she since experienced the least doubt 
of this important fact. That was at the darkest period of 
our late conflict. We, however, freely receipt the bill, for 
she has freely and promptly canceled it. We have not, as 
a nation, been wholly free from intestinal agitation. 

As a faithful chroniclar of past events we ought, per¬ 
haps, to refer to Free Masonry. We are, however, too near 
the institution to judge correctly of its vast proportions. 
Besides, we are fully aware that there are those living 
whose views are slightly divergent from our own. We, 



48 

therefore, respectfully pass over the whole subject in 
silence. 

The anti-slavery and temperance discussions began about 
the same time—say in the year 1830. The principle of 
anti-slavery was always tabooed by both the leading par¬ 
ties until the firing upon Sumpter. Anti-slavery had, 
from the beginning, able, powerful, and determined advo¬ 
cates. The South decided correctly that nothing but war 
could preserve their pet institution. She, therefore, 
appealed to the arbitrament of the sword, and lost all. The 
subject of temperance is still under sharp discussion. The 
combatants on both sides are still in the midst of the fight. 
Successful politicians always keeping entirely aloof from 
it, except to give aid and comfort to both sides in the 
warfare. One statement I dare make in defiance of suc¬ 
cessful contradiction, that is, that there is not in New 
England a tithe of the liquor drank now that there was 
fifty years ago, in proportion to the population. I wish it 
were so throughout the country. Another fact is equally 
obvious: This enemy of our race will never be destroyed 
or kept from destroying us, except by the exercise of 
ceaseless vigilance. 

March, 1876. 


HISTORICAL. 

In few things do most of our native-born citizens dis¬ 
cover more ignorance, 1 han they do respecting the history 
of either the State or town of their nativity. Worse than 
that, there is an immense amount of ignorance of family 
history, even among those who are reckoned among the 
otherwise intelligent classes. Young as our nation is, 
still there are few, indeed, who can trace their lineage 
back to the time when their ancestors emigrated to this 
country—nor from whence they came. This ignorance is 
our shame. We regret to say that we know of no authen¬ 
tic or reliable history of the State of Connecticut, from its 
first settlement. We will so far digress from our main 
purpose as to say, that for the native inhabitants especially 
we know of no more reliable history than that of Wind¬ 
ham County, recently published by Ellen Larned. It 
furnishes a carqfully prepared, and we think an authen¬ 
tic, history of the first settlement of all the towns in the 
County. Most of these facts, valuable as they are, can 
no where else be found in a connected form. We sincerely 
hope that the authoress will be so encouraged by the sale 
of the first volume as that the second will be speedily pub¬ 
lished. We need hardly say that we shall draw largely 
from this history for the facts we may hereafter record. 



49 

The original Indian name for this town was Aspinock. 
We are glad we do not know the name of the man who 
changed it for the killing one it bears—for he would, we 
opine, be held in everlasting execration. The soil of this 
town was so hilly, stony and poor, and so out of the way of 
everything, that it was the last town in the County which 
was settled. The town was formally laid out and officered 
in 1708. It originally embraced Thompson within its lim¬ 
its. Although it has twice been invaded and nearly half 
its territory filched from it, it is now, we think, the 
wealthiest and most populous town in the County. Such was 
the interest of our ancestors in education that 1,700 acres 
of land, located on the Five Mile river, were donated to 
Yale College. The original charter of Connecticut under 
Charles II. embraced all the territory between its eastern 
boundary and the Pacific ocean. The subsequent charter 
of Pennsylvania, of course, covered a vast amount of this 
territory, A long and bitter controversy ensued, which 
was finally settled by the cession to this state of a territory 
double its present size, in the northern part of what is 
now Ohio. This immense territory was forever conse¬ 
crated to the cause of education. Thus this State was the 
first in the Union, and probably the first spot on the globe, 
where education was made substantially free. During a 
lifetime of fourscore years, passed nearly wholly in this 
State, we have never known but one scholar turned out of 
school ostensibly because the quota of wood was not for¬ 
warded, but really on account of color. 


FIRST SETTLERS. 

It is a noteworthy fact that the track of the first settlers 
of Connecticut from Massachusetts, in 1635, crossed the 
county of Windham. Distinct traces of this passage-way 
were seen years after the settlement of the county. The 
first purchase of the Indians in this county was by John 
Wintlirop, afterwards Governor of the colony, in the year 
1653. Woodstock was the first incorporal ed town in the 
county, in the year 1690. Richard Evans, the first white 
inhabitant of Killingly, settled in what is now East Put¬ 
nam, in the year 1693. The north part of Killingly, now 
Thompson, East Putnam, Chestnut Hill and South Kil- 
ingly, were all settled before West Killingly. For some 
reason, not fully explained, our ancestors chose the higher 
points of land for their residences, and especially for their 
meeting-houses. This predilection proved exceedingly 
unfortunate, as both waterpower and railroads delight in 
the vale. About the first settler in this part of the town 



50 

was Mr. James Danielson. In the -year 1707 he purchased 
the neck of land between the Quinebaug and Five Mile 
rivers, from their junction nearly to Alexander’s lake. 
He at once took possession, and built a garrison for pro¬ 
tection against the Indians, near the confluence of the 
rivers, where he took up his residence. Mr. Danielson 
was the ancestor of all who bear the name in this region. 
These generally give evidence of the purity of the original 
stock, and that it has not deteriorated. Mr. D. donated to 
the public the original cemetery between the rivers, and 
was himself and family among the first to be buried there. 
The first of the name of Hutchins emigrated from Eng¬ 
land in 1670, and settled in Groton, Mass'. John, a son of 
his, was among the first settlers of Plainfield. John’s four 
sons settled in Killingly, about the year 1720. These four 
brothers married four sisters by the name of Leavens, and 
settled on four farms adjoining each other. These sisters 
were descendants of Joseph Leavens, once Town Clerk,— 
of whom I have spoken. Some 600 acres of these farms 
are still owned by the Hutchins descendants. The proge¬ 
ny of these brothers are widely scattered over the country, 
and filling various stations in life. One of these is our 
present Secretary of State, and another, in his 81st year, 
is the writer of these “ sketches.” Lest 1 shall be esteemed 
too personal, I here close what I have to say respecting 
this name in the language of Webster respecting Massa¬ 
chusetts: “ It speaks for itself.” 


MISCELLANY. 

A number of the descendants of the first settlers of this 
town are still residents here. Among these are now some 
of our most intelligent and enterprising citizens. A part 
of these are as follow: Howe, Cady, Warren. Whitmore, 
Day, and Elicksanders, (now Alexander). The fact that 
the ancestors of these families did thus early emigrate to 
these inhospitable shores was, of itself, proof positive of 
their energy and perseverance. The first meeting-house iu 
this town was built in 1714, about half a mile south of that 
now located at East Putnam. A church was organized 
and a minister, Rev. John Fisk, was settled in 1715. 
Another was afterwards built some two miles southeast 
of this, at Breakneck, near Mitchell’s ledge. An ancient 
burying ground still marks this locality. This house was 
afterwards removed to where our town-house now stands. 
After being used for worship many years, it was for a long 
time used for the town meetings. Many sharp political 
conflicts have we witnessed there. Among the keenest of 



51 

these was in 1819, when the constitution of our State was 
adopted, the opposers of adoption strenuously contending 
that the charter of Charles II. was all the constitution we 
needed. It is a melancholy fact that many, during long 
years after the war of the Revolution, like the ancient 
Israelites, lusted after the “leaks and onions” of British 
rule. Such is the innate attachment to long continued 
habit. It was in that house that the democratic party, 
then in its infancy, was compelled, under the operation of 
the “ stand up law,” as it was styled, to stand up, seven in 
number, and be counted, against more than a hundred of 
the dominant or Federal party. A great part of the tim¬ 
ber of the old house was used in the construction of our 
present town-house. Some of it we well recollect was of 
tremendous size. 

Rev. Mr. Burroughs, father of Stephen, the noted forger 
and minister of the gospel, preached for many years in 
this meeting-house. The house where he lived and Stephen 
was born is still occupied, and is the house where Barzilai 
Fisher lived and died. We once well knew an aged gen¬ 
tleman who was near Stephen’s age, and his next neigh¬ 
bor. He told this story to prove Stephen’s inherent mal¬ 
ice: “ When a boy he went to visit Stephen, who came 
from the house munching a slice of bread and butter. He 
kindly asked his visitor if he would have a piece. Receiv¬ 
ing an affirmative reply, he went into the house and at 
length brought out a large slice well buttered. Biting it, 
he found the bottom of it besmeared with the vilest filth 
he could procure.” Here, as is usually the case, the boy 
proved to be the ** father to the man.” 

March, 1876. 


SYNOPSIS OF A SERMON BY REV. JOHN ROBINSON.* 

The following is a synopsis of a sermon preached at 
Leyden, in Holland, by Rev. John Robinson, on the 21st of 
July, 1620, to our Puritan ancestors, a short time before 
their embarkation to this country. His text was from 
Ezra 8: 21, 22. Mr. Robinson then expected soon to follow 
the Pilgrims to this country. He, however, never came. 
It is a melancholy fact that neither the Puritans nor then- 
descendants, down to to-day, have scarcely begun to learn 
the lessons inculcated in "this sermon. Every sect of 
Christians (and their name is legion) still think that what¬ 
ever is not embraced in its creed is scarcely worth know¬ 
ing. 

“We are now ere long to part asunder, and the Lord 
knoweth whether we shall live to see your faces again. 
But whether the Lord has appointed it or not, he charged 



52 

us before God and his blessed angels to follow Him no 
further than he followed Christ, and if God should reveal 
anything to us by any other instrument of his, to be as 
ready to receive it as ever we were to receive any truth by 
his ministry: for he was very confident the Lord had more 
truth and light yet to break forth from His Holy Word. 
He took occasion, also, miserably to bewail the state and 
condition of the reformed churches, who had come to a 
period in religion, and would go no further than the 
instrument of their reformation. As, for example, the 
Lutherans could not be drawn to go beyond what Luther 
saw, for whatever part of God’s will he had further 
revealed and imparted to Calvin, they will rather die than 
embrace it. And so also, saith he, the Calvinists, they 
stick where he left them, a misery to be lamented, for 
though they were precious, shining lights in their times, 
yet God had not revealed His whole will to them, and 
were they now living, saitli he, they would be as ready and 
willing to embrace further light as that they had received. 
Here, also, he puts us in mind of our Church Covenant—at 
least, that part of it whereby we promise and covenant 
with God and one with another to receive whatsoever 
light or truth shall be made known to us from his written 
Word, but, with all, exhorted us to take heed of what we 
received for truth, and well to examine and compare it 
and weigh it with other Scriptures of truth before we 
received it. For, saith he, it is not possible the Christian 
world should come so lately out of such thick anti- 
christian darkness, and that full perfection of knowledge 
should break forth at once. Another thing he commanded 
to us was, that we should use all means to avoid and shake 
off the name of Brownist, being a mere nickname and 
brand, to make religion odious, and the profession of it so 
to the Christian world. And to that end, said he, I should 
be glad if some godly minister would go over with you 
before my coming. For, said he, there will be a differ¬ 
ence between the unconformable ministers and you, when 
they come to the practice of the ordinances out of the 
kingdom. And so advised us by all means to endeavor 
to close with the godly part of the kingdom of England, 
and rather to study union than division. It is to see how 
near we might possibly without sin close with them, 
rather than in the least measure to affect division or sepa¬ 
ration from them. And be not loath to take another 
pastor or teacher, saith he, for that flock which has two 
shepherds is not endangered but secured by it.” 


£3 

CHURCHES AND PASTORS. 


We beg leave to state, just here and now, that we depend 
largely on memory for the facts we record in these 
sketches, hence some errors can scarcely be avoided. 
Either the printer or ourself—we suspect the latter—com¬ 
mitted the error of locating our school fund land in the 
south instead of the north of Ohio. 

Many years after the first church was built near the foot 
of the North Killingly Hill, it was pulled down and rebuilt 
on the Hill near where East Putnam church now stands. 
This society joined Mr. Burroughs’ on the south. Rev. Mr. 
Brown was its minister. So far as we can learn, no 
meeting-house was erected on Chestnut Hill until about 
the year 1809. This was built near the north end of the 
hill, by Charles Dabney, some of whose descendents reside 
in this village. Rev. Mr. Cooper was for many years the 
worthy minister. He was the father of twenty children. 
It was said that he mourned because one more could not 
have been added, so that he could have been of age. South 
Killingly was for many years compelled to support preach¬ 
ing at Breakneck, six miles distant, and of a different 
faith. South Killingly called themselves Separatists, 
while Breakneck was of the Standing Order. At that 
period, no new church could organize, or meeting-house 
be built, until liberty to do so was first obtained from the 
legislature of the State. After long years of disappoint¬ 
ment and trial, a church was organized and a meeting¬ 
house built Their first minister was Rev. Mr. Wadsworth; 
the second, Rev. Mr. Wright ; and the third, Rev. Mr. 
Day. We have in this village descendants from them all. 
Of Mr. Wadsworth, the family of the late Dea. Sprague. 
Of Mr. Wright, Mr. Edward Davis. Of Mr. Da}% Dorrance 
and the late Horace Day. We know little of Mr. Wads¬ 
worth. Mr. Wright and Mr. Day were both in their time 
esteemed very able preachers. Mr. Wright carried on the 
business of tanning, currying and shoemaking. Mr. Day 
supplemented a salary of $200 a year by farming. Both, 
as was usual at that period, reared up large families of 
children. 


RETROSPECTIVE. 

I have elsewhere intimated that this vicinity appears to 
have been settled later than any other part of the town. 
I can give no other reason for this than the one already 
referred to, to wit, that there was no convenient hill on 
which to locate a church and construct a village contigu¬ 
ous to it. This, even within my own recollection, was a 



54 


very sparsely populated region. There were litttle more 
than a dozen dwelling houses within a mile of our present 
church. There were then no wheeled conveyances—hence 
no mode of conveyance except on horseback or on foot. 
These last, a large share of them, especially those of a 
smaller size, went bare the larger half of the year. Few, 
now living, can appreciate the poverty which immediately 
succeeded the Revolutionary war. Probably the whole 
United States would not have sold for a sum sufficient to 
have cancelled their just indebtedness. At the time of 
our birth there was no school-house nearer here than two 
miles, or church nearer than three. We feel sure that 
people attended church then more generally than now. 
There was at least one cogent reason for this that does not 
now exist. The law then peremptorily required the 
attendance at church of all those whose health permitted, 
at least once in three weeks, and all were compelled to pay 
for the preaching whether they heard it or not. The j 7 ear 
1796 was made memorable by the ushering in of a trio of 
important events: The meeting-house and the only school- 
house then in the Society, (a school-house had been burned 
a number of years before), and for the birth of an individ¬ 
ual who sometimes writes for the Transcript,—showing as 
they do, that there are crises in the history of villages, as 
well as nations, which render these villages memorable 
forever afterwards. We, or those who follow us, will see. 

June, 1876. 


MANUFACTORIES. 

In few things have there been greater improvements, 
during the last century, than in the manufacture of cloth 
and clothing of every description. One hundred years ago 
cotton was nowhere raised, to any extent, except in the 
East Indies. Neither Arkwright’s spinning frame nor 
Whitney’s cotton gin had been invented. England had 
then but just begun the manufacture of cotton. Irish lin¬ 
ens, so long and so justly celebrated, were then, and for 
aught we know are still, spun on the same kind of linen 
wheel, turned by the foot, that our mothers used in olden 
time, and woven by hand. 

We, at this period of plenty of all the necessaries of life, 
as well as most of the luxuries, can have but small concep¬ 
tion of the poverty of our ancestors at the period imme¬ 
diately succeeding the Revolutionary war, even of those in 
the best circumstances. Dr. (loodaie, the veteran mission¬ 
ary of the American Board, tells a graphic story of his 
early life, which was but a transcript of that of multitudes 
of others. When he was but six years old his^parents 



55 

removed from New England to Central New York, then the 
far west. In their half-finished log house the mother occu¬ 
pied her evenings in carding tow by the light of a pine 
knot, held at a safe distance by the stripling son—she at 
the same time singing a hymn, one stanza of which he 
remembered: 

“ Hovering among the leaves there stands 
The sweet, celestial dove; 

And high upon the branches hangs 
The banner of his love.” 

These parents, like many others of similar principles 
and habits, were able afterwards to educate three sons for 
the ministry, all of whom, we think, became foreign 
missionaries. 

We well recollect the dilapidated condition of our cloth¬ 
ing on the approach of spring. No new could be furnished 
until the flax was broke, swingled, hatcheled, carded, spun, 
warped, woven and made up. This was all done in the 
barn and house. It was indeed a glad day when the gar¬ 
ments took form and were placed upon us, notwithstand¬ 
ing the prickly sensation often produced. The foregoing 
remarks were suggested by a recent visit to Grosvenor- 
dale, and a careful examination of the large cotton mill 
located there, in all its parts. We had carefully taken 
note of quite a number of, to us, startling facts, when lo, 
and behold ! we were peremptorily interdicted from using 
them as we had intended. We will not, however, be 
debarred from saying that the goods manufactured there 
are very far in advance, both in quality and quantity, of 
those made in our father’s chamber and garret 75 years 
ago. We further add, regardless of consequences, that Mr. 
Briggs, the gentlemanly head of this immense establish¬ 
ment, with the help of his family, knows as well how to 
entertain his friends as to manufacture cotton goods. Mr. 
B. has already been called, to some extent, into public 
service. We shall be greatly surprised if still further 
requisitions are not hereafter made upon him in the same 
direction. 

July, 1876. 


IN MEMORIUM. 

“ The chamber where the good man meets his fate 
Is privileged beyond the common walks 
Of virtuous life, quite on the verge oi Heaven.” 

Mr. Editor: You gave last week a short sketch of the 
circumstances respecting the accident which occasioned 
the death, of our friend and fellow townsman, Dea. Elisha 



56 

Danielson, together with some few reminiscences of his 
life. 

There is, at least, one who is unwilling to let this solemn, 
this afflictive providence, which has thus suddenly 
snatched from a large family circle and a widely extended 
acquaintance, one of our most aged and respected citizens, 
pass without farther notice. 

Dea. D. was the third generation who lived each to a 
good old age, and died in the same house. His was among 
the most ancient, as well as respected families in this 
town, and no act of his ever in the least tarnished its good 
name. The brightest gem, however, which he inherited 
from a pious ancestry and through the merits of his dear 
Saviour, was the pearl of great price. This he sought and 
found early in life; this, too, he apparently esteemed alto¬ 
gether more highly than all things else, earthly. To few 
men in our fallen world lias it been permitted to live a 
life of threescore years and ten, and during nearly fifty of 
these years giving so uniform a testimony to the reality of 
religion, and who crowned such a life with so triumphant 
a death. Like his Divine Exampler, he apparently lived 
in favor both with God and man; for we fully believe it 
may with strictest truth be said, that he lived and died 
without an enemy. 

We cannot, with our limited vision, comprehend a prov¬ 
idence which has thus suddenly removed a kind husband 
and father who was never apparently more needed than 
now. Hence we infer the absolute necessity of a future 
state to solve the enigmas pertaining to this. “ What I do 
ye know not now, but ye shall know hereafter.” May the 
bereaved widow and children enter at once into the full 
enjoyment of all those precious promises, to the which this 
sorely afflictive dispensation could alone entitle them. 


OUR KILLINGLY GIRLS. 

To my lady friend, E. M. Y:—The gentle, and, I must 
confess, well-merited reproof which you administered to 
me through the Transcript of last week reminds me of a 
story. A man and his wife started for the city, some ten 
miles distant. Arriving there, they separated, each to 
make their respective purchases. The husband finding it 
late before finishing his work, hastened to load up his 
effects and started in a hurry for home. Arriving there, 
his children met him at the door with the anxious inquiry, 
“Where’s mother?” “There,” he replied, “I thought I 
had forgotten something.” I, too, was aware that I had 
omitted or forgotten somel liing. I thank my lady friend 
for reminding me of the omission. I make no" plea in 



57 

mitigation of damages, save the fact (and I blush while I 
confess it) that your sex hereabouts have a few rights that 
the other feels bound to respect. Indeed, she can find but 
slight enjoyment here in the exhilarating passage of Scrip¬ 
ture: “If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free 
indeed.” Hence, Madam, I trust you will not wonder that 
I feel discouraged, or greatly censure me for neglecting 
half of my subject—the better half, too. 1 have not the 
time this week to fully make the amend honorable, having, 
until a late hour, been absent from home. I will, however, 
hereafter, (D. V.) resume the subject by doing the best I 
can to construct a roll of honor as appertaining to your 
sex, knowing, as I do, that I have at hand ample materials 
out of which to perform the work, thus making it 
throughout thoroughly harmonious and symmetrical. I, 
therefore, beg my fair correspondent, just for this once, 
to exorcise the grace of waiting. 

October, 1874. 


To Mrs. E. M. Y:—I am happy, Madam, in announcing 
to you that I have had my spectacles put in good order. I 
will now try, as best I can, to fulfil my promise, by calling 
to mind and making a record of a few of our more promi¬ 
nent “ Killingly Girls.” These you are hereby allowed to 
place over against our boys—thus making the roll of honor 
to harmonize. It must, however, be borne in mind that ‘ ‘our 
girls” have from time immemorial been subjected to the 
severest and most humiliating disabilities, always standing 
athwart her pathway, and reminding her of her inferiority. 
Our town has, however, furnished many “girls” who 
have, as far as their restricted circumstances permitted, 
distinguished themselves equally with the boys. Long 
years before this town furnished a minister of the gospel, 
it furnished a number of minister's wives—one of whom 
was our own minister’s wife during a period of 30 years. 
The text at her funeral was but a transcript of her true 
character, “A gracious woman retaineth honor.” Another 
now living aged 80 years, is among the worthiest and most 
intelligent women I ever knew, Some three or four ladies, 
natives of this town, now living, are minister’s wives. Of 
them I will not venture to speak, lest peradventure I may 
make too free use of superlatives. .. Most of the distin¬ 
guished Female Seminaries of New England have been 
liberally patronized by our Killingly girls. These have 
subsequently in turn furnished other Seminaries with a 
number of their ablest teachers. 

Our town has raised up the wives of other professional 
men, and men occupying other prominent positions, of 
whom neither they nor we have any reason to be ashamed. 



58 

We are proud of the fact that one of our Killingly girls is 
now in the full practice of medicine in the city of Hart¬ 
ford, and has recently become a member of the Medical 
Society there, the first, ’tis said, ever admitted to that 
honor in the State. Another lady has either entered the 
practice of medicine, or is about to do so—somewhere, we 
trow, on the banks of the Hudson. Another lady still, a 
native of this town, was President of a Female College in 
Ohio. Allow me to assure my friend, E. M. V., that I do 
“remember the strains of real poetry” written by another 
female native of this town, and her “words of cheer and 
encouragement to every good work.” I well remember 
her deprecatory utterance in words as follows: 

‘ ‘ Then chide me not, for veriest trifles 
Cast deepest shadows o’er my lot, 

Your words of blame my heart-breath stifles; 

Oh, then, kind Tankred, chide me not.” 

I have by no means exhausted the record of talented 
females who were and are natives of this town. We are to 
always remember that all these achievements of genius 
were wrought out under the depressing influences of law, 
custom, prejudice, and more than all, a torturing misap¬ 
prehension of the plainest precepts of the Bible. The utter¬ 
ances of Paul respecting women just emerging from the 
densest heathenism, are made binding upon the whole sex, 
throughout all subsequent generations, regardless of his 
declaration that both sexes become “ one in Christ Jesus.” 
I feel under the highest obligation to my friend, E. M. V., 
for thus reminding me of so palpable an omission, and 
hope she will accept this as well, as in part a fulfillment of 
my promise. 

October, 1874. 


REDEDICATJON. 

We were rarely ever in our lives more interested in a 
discourse than we were in that of our pastor, Dr. Taylor, 
last Sabbath morning. This was the first service after the 
thorough renovation of the house—religious rervices hav¬ 
ing been held in the vestry some six weeks during this 
transformation. Our church has, during this time, been 
beautifullv re-painted inside, finely re-frescoed, and the 
floors re-carpeted—making the audience room much more 
attractive than it was when new. 

Dr. T. truthfully, as well as eloquently, depicted the 
blessings of liberality, especially in the behalf of the church 
of Christ, and more especially still of a very great liberal¬ 
ity in building and decorating houses for His worship. 
His reminiscences of olden time, and his comparison of 



59 

the old with the new, illustrating the superior advantages 
of the latter, were much admired, especially by the 
younger part of his audience. He might have still 
strengthened his argument by referring to the old-fashioned, 
antiquarian habit of our forefathers of ‘ ‘ paying as they 
went.” We must not, however, expect everything in one 
sermon. We cannot conscientiously avoid expressing the 
conviction that possibly he may have committed a slight 
anachronism in not postponing the delivery of this excel¬ 
lent discourse until the expense incurred in this rejuvena¬ 
tion had been fully cancelled. Perhaps I am (as I often 
have been and sincerely hope I am now) mistaken. We 
shall see. 


THE SWALLOW AND FEATHER. 

I beheld with exquisite delight 
A feather far up in the air; 

While a swallow was pressing her flight, 
To catch it her nest to prepare. 

Her wings had created a breeze 
Which drove the light treasure away, 

And every exertion to seize, 

Removed the prize farther astray. 

At length when the atmosphere stilled, 
The feather fell earthward to rest, 

And the swallow, with happiness filled, 
Conveyed the prize safe to her nest. 

Thus fortune in like manner flies 

From such as would haste to be great, 

But descends in abundant supplies 
On such as her visits would wait. 

Then think on this swallow again, 

And from her once learn to be wise; 

For “ pearls on the bottom remain.” 
While “straws to the surface will rise.” 


THE PROPOSED TAX ON NEWSPAPERS. 

To the Editor of The N. Y. Tribune: 

Sir—I observe that Congress, in its necessities to increase 
the revenue, is proposing to compel the newspapers to pay 
a postage or a tax, whether carried in the mail or any 
other way. 

It appears to me as if all the advocates of cheap postage 
—or, what is far better, no postage—had in a great measure 




60 

failed to recognize the great and unanswerable argument 
in its favor. This argument lies in the fact that both the 
Post-office and the newspaper press are to a very great 
degree educational institutions. ’Tis true that our empty 
treasury needs replenishing from every available and legit¬ 
imate source, yet with all our financial embarassments, 
who would advocate taxing the common school-house, the 
little boy’s spelling book, or the Testament or religious 
tract which we send to the soldiers ? 

What parent would say to his child that he should give 
him no more education than he paid for as he received it. 
’Tis a truism that few will attempt to controvert—that the 
liberties of our country are based upon the intelligence of 
the people. We may well tremble for the perpetuity of 
our free institutions, when the avenues of this intelligence 
shall be clogged by onerous taxation. 

If we ever expect to triumph over the present rebellion, 
and if we would make it sure that the people will be ever 
ready to furnish both the men and means to do it, let our 
rulers beware of taxing our sources of information; let’the 
soldier hold free communication with the dear ones at 
home; let the people have early and free (as far as the 
Government is concerned) intelligence of the operation of 
the war. Of one thing I feel sure: Our liberties as a nation 
will never be impregnable until the means of procuring an 
education of all the children, as well of a larger as 
of a smaller growth, shall be as nearly free as the case will 
admit. 

I am also sure that there are no means so potent in 
accomplishing this so desirable an object—the education of 
the whole nation—as cheap newspaper and a cheap letter 
postage. 

January 24, 1862. 


61 



We have elsewhere said that these pages are published 
more in the interest of family connexions than in that of 
the public. We, therefore, make no apology for inserting 
the following family records. 


RECORD OF THE PATERNAL ANCESTRY OF ISAAC.T. 
HUTCHINS. 

Nicholas Hutchins emigrated from England to this couu- 
try about the year 1670, in the reign of Charles II., and 
settled in Groton, Mass. He had two sons, viz., John and 
Joseph. The latter died childless. John Hutchins was 
born at Groton, A. D. 1678. He married a Miss Whitney, 
by whom he had five children, viz., Joshua, John, Benja¬ 
min, Sarah and Abigail. He lost his wife and afterward 
removed to Plainfield, Conn. He then married Mary 
Pierce, a widow, whose maiden name was Wyman, from 
Woburn, Mass., about the year 1710, by whom he had eight 
children, viz., Joseph, Wyman, Ezra, Silas, Anna, Keziah, 
Ruth and Mary. Ezra was born in the year 1715, and mar¬ 
ried Abigail Leavens, daughter of Joseph Leavens, Esq., 
by whom he had nine children, viz., Hannah, Zaviah, 
Elizabeth, Abigail, Sibiel, Ezra, Darius, Shubael, and Pen- 
uel, my father. 


RECORD OF THE MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF ISAAC T. 

HUTCHINS. 

John Thompson was the first of the name that emigrated 
from England to this country. He came a young man, 
and afterward married a daughter of Francis Cook, one of 
the passengers of the Mayflower, the first vessel that arrived 
at Plymouth, A. D. 1620. The said John Thompson died 
June 16th, 1696, in the 80th year of his age. Mary Thomp¬ 
son, his wife, died March 20th, 1714, in the 88th year of 
her age. John Thompson, son of the above, died Nov 5th, 
1725, aged 77 years. He married Mary Tinckham, who 
died A. D. 1781, in her 76th year. Shubael Thompson, 
sou of the last named, died July 1st, 1733, in the 48th year 
of his age. He married Mary Porter, who died June 9th, 
1734, in the 47th year of her age. John Thompson, son of 
the above named Shubael, was born June 11th, 1717, and 
died June 22nd, 1766, aged 49 years. He married for his 






62 


second wife, Sarah Soule, August 10, 1762. Mary Thomp¬ 
son, daughter of the last named John Thompson, by his 
second wife, was born Dec. 21, 1763, and was married to 
my father, Dr. Penuel Hutchins, May 10, 1787. She died 
March 15, 1825, aged 62 years. 


WILLIAM HUTCHINS, M. D. 

The melancholy tidings of the death of William Hutch- 
ips, M. D., have recently been announced to the public. 
The writer of this communication was long and intimately 
acquainted with the deceased, and feels that he should 
omit a duty due to the memory of a departed friend, were 
he to neglect to make some suitable mention of the many 
public and private virtues which adorned his life, and so 
devotedly attached to him a numerous circle of friends 
who will long and deeply mourn his loss. 

In this county, which was chiefly the field of his profes¬ 
sional practice, Doctor Hutchins was extensively known, 
and no one was more highly esteemed both as a physician 
and a citizen. His literary reputation was, however, by 
no means confined to the limits of his native county or 
State. At a very early age, he acquired a passionate love 
for reading, which he continued to indulge through life, 
in spite of every obstacle, and few remembered what they 
read better than he. This made him conversant with 
almost every subject, and together with fine intellectual 
powers and a good education, rendered him a ready 
debater, and a polished and original writer. In all his 
business transactions he was scrupulously honest and 
upright, and every action was under the influence of fixed 
principle. He was possessed of a kind heart, an amiable 
and cheerful disposition, with constant exertions to cheer 
and enliven the spirits of others by drawing on an almost 
exhaustless fund of wit and humor. He made a profes¬ 
sion of religion, at the early age of 14 years, and his last 
hours gave evidence that those hopes and consolations 
were his which can only result from a consistent religious 
life. In answer to some inquiries addressed to a near rela¬ 
tion who was with him much during’ his last sickness, he 
remarks: “His mind was perfectly clear to the last, and 
never did I witness more perfect resignation to the will of 
God, or stronger confidence in a blessed immortality, 
alone through the merits of the Saviour. He earnestly 
enjoined upon all who visited him not to delay a prepara¬ 
tion for death to a death bed. Distressing as were his 
pains, at times he appeared almost in ecstacies of happi¬ 
ness—observing at the same time that this comfort could 



63 

not be the effect of opium, for he had taken none, but that 
he felt an assurance that it was purely of the unmerited 
grace of God. In view of such a death, who will not say 
* ‘ let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end 
be like his.” 


REBECCA W. HUTCHINS. 

In Killingly, Ct., on 21st ult., Rebecca W., only daugh¬ 
ter of Isaac T. and Abilene H. Hutchins, in the 18th year 
of her age. 

“ Thou hast ail seasons for thine own, oh ! Death.” 

When those we have loved pass from us, and the grave 
closes over all that remains of their once dear forms, it 
seems but an act of justice to pay some tribute to their 
memory. The subject of this obituary was for some time 
a resident of Providence, while completing her education 
at one of its best schools; and her name may sound famil¬ 
iar to some of her classmates as they casually pass it by, 
and remind them that one, young and buoyant with life 
and hope, has been cut down in the morning of her days. 
Alas ! a sad proof of the frailty of cur nature and the 
uncertainty of all earthly enjoyments. I would not tres¬ 
pass on the holy chamber of grief, hearts are bleeding 
there, whose wounds God alone can heal. To the afflicted 
parents, who sadly have seen an only, dearly loved daugh¬ 
ter to the ‘“land of spirits go,” strength will be given from 
above; may they repose their trust in Him who “ tempers 
the wifid to the shorn lamb,” and whose ways are dark 
and unsearchable, but just. 

To the tenderness of a daughter’s love, she added the 
fervor of a sister’s affection; although warm and devoted 
in her attachments, she was never blind to a clear percep¬ 
tion of her duty. Amiable in her temper and conciliatory 
in her manners, she won the confidence of her associates, 
and in the domestic circle shed happiness and content¬ 
ment around her. 

To these rare endowments was joined not a genius, but 
a strong practical mind, quick to discern the path of recti¬ 
tude, and never suffering the pleasures and allurements of 
youth to oppose her abiding sense of right. 

Over a nature thus gentle and lovely, religion early spread 
its holy charm. Years ago it pleased her Heavenly Father 
to grant her Faith in Christ as the Saviour of all who trust 
in Him; and as death drew near, to convert her trembling 
hopes into a calm and humble confidence. 

In the ir emory of such an one departed, there is conso¬ 
lation for those whose tears are falling fast. We would 



64 

point them to the promises of heaven. “ She whom they 
mourn is not dead, but sleepeth.” 

“Joy for thee, hapyy one ! Thy bark hath pa^t 
The rough sea’s foam ! 

Thy peace is won—Thou art gone home.” 


MRS. ABILENE H. HUTCHINS. 

In West Kiliingly, Ct., Dec. 3, Mrs. Abilene H. Hutchins, 
wife of Isaac T. Hutchins, Esq., aged 64 years. 

It is not fitting that one who occupied so high a place in 
the esteem of the community as Mrs. Hutchins, should 
pass away from us by death, without some tribute to her 
memory. Not so much to inform others of her worth, as 
that we may testify to our own appreciation of it; for she 
was well known to most of the permanent residents in 
this village. 

Mrs. Hutchins was favored with a physical frame of 
great vigor and endurance; a constitution naturally robust; 
and a personal presence which invoked the respect of all 
who saw her. A closer acquaintance confirmed the 
respect, and showed that the physical gifts she had 
received were more than equalled by the attractive quali¬ 
ties of her disposition and character. None who have 
known her will forget the elasticity of her spirits; the 
genial temper, which showed itself in her intercourse with 
all; nor her unaffected kindness of heart. She made the 
young feel at home in her company, by manifesting a 
sympathetic interest in their concerns; and she was free 
and buoyant with those of more advanced years. She 
was a hearty friend to all ages, and none ever had reason 
to feel restraint in social intercourse with her. She under¬ 
stood the courtesies of refined society, and knew how to 
dispense them. 

Mrs. Hutchins stood ready to use her strength for the 
comfort or the benefit of any that needed. This was one 
of her marked characteristics. During the late war, her 
influence and efforts were freely given to provide for the 
comfort of the soldiers in our amy; and many a one has 
occasion to be grateful to her memory, for the zeal and 
perseverance she exhibited in these efforts. 

But her aid and counsel in the sick room were as freely 
given, and are worthy of as honorable and grateful recog¬ 
nition. By the circumstances of her early life she was 
made familiar with scenes of sickness and"suffering; and 
was qualified to minister in rooms of disease and pain. 
And no call to aid, in such cases, however unreasonable, 
was wont to be refused, while she had strength to do for 



65 

others; though sometimes it was at great inconvenience, 
and even danger to herself. Many a one who has been a 
sufferer in these forms can testify to the efficiency of her 
help; and to the cheering effect of her very manner in the 
sick room. 

But she cared faithfully for her own household; and 
manifested the tenderest and most unwearied affection 
towards her children,* and her last audible words were 
those of prayer for her only surviving child, and her only 
grandchild. Mrs. Hutchins was not demonstrative in her 
religious character, but she left behind her satisfactory 
evidence that she was prepared by divine grace to enter 
upon the scenes of another world While this change, then, 
has been gain to her, it has been loss to us; loss to those 
in immediate relation to her; loss to the needy and the 
suffering; a loss to the whole community. Her memory 
will be fragrant among us for years to come. 


RECORD OF MY FATHER’S FAMILY. 

Dr. Penuel Hutchins was born Feb. 4, 1762. He had 11 
children, three of whom died in childhood. He practiced 
medicine 55 years. He died Oct. 13, 1841, in the 80th year 
of his age. G-eorge Bryant Hutchins was born Feb. 1,1788. 
He was a clothier by trade. He died aged 82 years. Dr. 
Waldo Hutchins was born Nov. 30, 1789. He practiced 
medicine in Brooklyn. Ct., and died March 14, 1826. Ezra 
Hutchins was bom Nov. 22, 1791. He graduated at Brown 
University, and practiced law in Providence, R. I. He 
died Jan. 7, 1819, aged 27 years. Kezia Hutchins was born 
Jan. 18, 1794. She married S. D. Burbank, Esq., a lawyer. 
She died March 24, 1820, aged 26 years. Isaac Hutchins 
was born Feb. 15, 1796. He was a merchant some 30 years, 
and is now living, in the 83d year of liis age. Joanna 
Hutchins was born Jan. 26, 1798. She married Dea. Wm. 
B. Sprague, and is still living, in the 81st year of her age. 
Elisha Perkins Hutchins w T as born Dec. 28, 1799. He grad¬ 
uated at Brown University; became a lawyer, and prac¬ 
ticed in his profession in Charleston, S. C. He died Jan. 
15, 1825, aged 26 years. Ruth Hutchins was born April 20, 
1801, and died Jan. 9, 1809, aged 6 years. Ira Hutchins 
w as born February 21, 1803, and died March 9, 1803, aged 
two weeks. Dr. William Hutchins w^as born Aug. 27, 1804. 
He practiced medicine in Brooklyn, Ct., and died Aug. 8, 
1845, aged 41 years. Mary Hutchins was born Jan. 3, 1807, 
and died Jan. 11, 1808, aged 1 year. 



66 

RECORD OF ISAAC T. HUTCHIN’S FAMILY. 

Isaac T. Hutchins was married April 20, 1826, to Abeline 
H. Grosvenor, a daughter of Dr. Robert Grosyenor, of No. 
Killingly, Gt. Mrs. H. died Dec. 3, 1865. Mr. Hutchins 
afterward married, Oct. 30, 1867, Mrs. Harriet P. Meriam, a 
daughter of Samuel Watson, Esq., of Leicester, Mass. 
His children were as follow :—Elisha Perkins Hutchins, 
born March 20, 1827. He died Nov. 21, 1827, aged eight 
months. Mary Grosvenor Hutchins, born Jan. 13, 1829. 
She died Dec. 14, 1831, in the third year of her age. Re¬ 
becca Wilkinson Hutchins, born June 24, 1830. She died 
Dec. 21, 1847, aged 17 years. Isaac Thompson Hutchins, 
Jr., born Oct. 27, 1832. He died Sep. 19, 1856, aged 24 
years. Robert Grosvenor Hutchins, born April 25, 1838. 


EIGHTY-ONE. 

The following lines were read at the 81st birthday sur¬ 
prise party of Isaac T. Hutchins: 

Life’s long, long day anears its,close; 

On hoary peaks its sunset glows, 

And kindles evening skies anew 
With brighter hues than morning knew. 

Upon the far horizon’s rim, 

Awaiting restful twilight dim, 

Still warm and bright, thy setting sun 
Lingers, at fourscore years and one. 

Whether thy fading day were fair, 

Or tempest-scarred, or dimmed with care— 

What matters now, if dark or bright? 

“ At evening time it shall be light.” 

Though long and dark thy pilgrimage. 

In youth thy guide, thy guard in age; 

His Holy Word thy staff and stay; 

God has upheld thee all the way. 

And still His promise comforts thee; 

“ As is thy day, thy strength shall be,” 

While lovelight stars thine evening hours, 

And Spring to Winter brings her flowers. 

February 15, 1877. 


ELISHA P. HUTCHINS. 

The following is taken from the N. Y. Evangelist of 




67 

April, 1842. It refers to a brother of mine, Elisha P. 
Hutchins, who died. June 1825: 

Excelsior.—The Idea Recognized. —The poetry of our 
countryman, Prof, Longfellow, has a remarkable power to 
excite strong, vivid, and yet often vague sensations in the 
mind, of having our most deep and solemn relations 
affected. It reaches the consciousness of the soul, and 
walks like an iron-heeled giant in the most retired recesses 
of the mind. Do our readers remember his poem entitled 
Excelsior, which we gave them a few weeks since? The 
climber of the Alps suggested one whom we once knew, 
and loved, and wept—a similar climber on the mountains 
of attainment. The memory was awakened, the image 
was faintly recalled—not fully—until yesterday it came, 
the complete idea of a toiling, weary, aspiring, and dying 
man. 

He was a youth of Connecticut—his father, a physician 
—his mother, a brilliant and energetic lady—himself, a 
splendid example of powerful mind, shaking to early ruin 
a frame far too feeble for its aspirings. He entered cob 
lege, and immediately stood first in his class. Every eye 
was fixed on him—every classmate astonished at his intel¬ 
lectual prowess. His mind yearned for knowledge, and 
even more—for distinction. He looked with scorn on the 
measure of ordinary study, and reached forward—nay, 
pressed onward, far before others, with the ease of self- 
operating and augmenting energy. Poor student ! a great 
name was gained, but the constitution broke under the 
acquisition. Go home to thy father—heknoweth the medi¬ 
cinal art, he will be skillful to save his son. 

The student hath acquired his profession—he hath 
entered the labyrinth of law. He hath gone to Charles¬ 
ton, S. C. that city of refuge for the Northern consumptive. 
One ambitious leap, one stout blow, and the clarion trump 
of fame is lifted at once. He will be the first in his pro¬ 
fession. He is exceedingly eloquent. Intellect, fire, pas¬ 
sion, intense fervor, and fluent speech—these were all in 
his earliest efforts at the bar. In vain do these struggle 
against dreaded debility. 

The young lawyer is at home once more. He still burns 
with unquenchable ambition, but his foe is too mighty. 
He has been called to repentance, he has been solemnly 
warned, but in the pride of his heart he has laughed at the 
revival, and has deferred the concerns of his soul. The 
months roll on and his vigor wanes. He rides beside a 
sober youth into the green forest to gather grapes. The 
young lad guides his horse and mourns for its feeble rider, 
yet does not speak to him about the soul. Guileless lad, 
why dost thou not speak ? Knowest thou not that the 


68 


consumptive yearns to hear thee? The proud one longs to 
learn wisdom of a child. The shadows of evening are 
coming—return ! 

Not again did the perishing student visit the green for¬ 
est. The fountain of life was rapidly passing away. It was 
three weeks before he died, when a change came over him! 

The proud, eager, and ambitious youth surrendered the 
fascinations of earth. The deep springs of action in the 
soul were touched. The horrible expectations of a dismal 
death-bed vanished. The Lord of glory entered. Heaven 
came down to salute the new-created. The giant fires of 
immortality flamed out in their dazzling splendor. 
Thoughts of unsurpassing grandeur, emotions of sweetest 
tenderness, and words of burning power adorned his last 
days. The utterance of his soul was like a full breeze of 
celestial fragrance. He who had called the young con¬ 
verts enthusiastic who once lisped the name of Jesus in the 
social prayer-meeting, was more enthusiastic than they all. 
His death-bed was their vindication. Upward his spirit 
was ascending. Clinging with intensity of entire conse¬ 
cration to the person and office of his divine Lord, he 
bathed himself in the sweetest influences of the spiritual 
world. He died in triumph, but ere he died accosted the 
young lad who stood beside him: 

“My friend, you must be more faithful. Did you not 
know that my heart was troubled? Think you it was 
merely for the ride or the grapes that I sought you to guide 
me into the forest ? Oh, if you had but spoken. But you 
feared me—my scorn or my sceptical pride ! Never fear 
again. The child who hath been taught of the Lord, may 
speak to the proudest heart, and his voice will be heard, 
perhaps the better because it is a child’s voice. Be cour¬ 
ageous, be faithful. How strange was my perverseness— 
that I resisted the gospel so long. How wonderful the 
goodness of God, who has even in these last days visited 
me with salvation.” 

The soul—the mind—the body. When the body dies, 
what can earth do for it without a God ? When the mind 
returns dissatisfied from its loftiest flights, and the frail 
body groans uuder it, what can give it rest but the hand 
of God ? When the soul is called to enter the eternal state, 
who will go with it, to sustain and glorify, but the spirit 
of the living God ? 

The heritage of earth is vain. But when earth vanishes, 
how serene, how beautiful, how invitingly boundless, is 
the world of glory. Thither, then, O thou of feeble body, 
and aspiring mind, arise—press upward and still cry 
“Excelsior.” Safe in thy Saviour’s keeping shall even thy 


69 

body be. Hereafter, it shall not fail before the energies of 
ascending spirit. It shall become mighty to ascend, and 
powerless to die. - T - 


LINES TO ALICE. 

My little granddaughter, Alice G. Hutchins, aged three 
years, sent some cranberries and sea shells, with some deli¬ 
cacies prepared by her mother, to Deacon C., some four 
weeks before his death. Upon the receipt of them, the 
sick man called for writing materials; was braced up in 
bed, and penned the following exquisite lines. The little 
girl died soon afterward. 

Alice, dear Alice, 

It was kind, it was well, 

To send thac sweet letter 
With berry and shell. 

It was sweet to my sadness, 

As sweetness could be, 

To know that my Alice 
Was caring for me. 

But Alice, dear Alice, 

You sweet little elf, 

Why did you send them ? 

Why not bring them yourself ? 

Like light to the sunshine, 

Perfume to the rose, 

Is the smile of the giver 
On the gift she bestows. 

Alice, dear Alice, 

I send you with this 
My thanks and my blessing— 

A prayer, and a kiss; 

May Christ in his bosom 
My dear Alice hold; 

A gem in His breastplate, 

A lamb of His fold. 


BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY. 

One of the most prominent men in this place, one whose 
long residence here entitles him to be regarded as a land¬ 
mark, as it were, in our village history, whose active part in 
church and other affairs, and his presence upon our streets, 
constitute him a well-known person to all, celebrated his 
eighty-first birthday anniversary on Friday last. The 
Danielsonville correspondent of the Bulletin has described 




70 

the occasion more fully and better than words of one who 
was absent could do, and we give it a place in our col¬ 
umns, adding to it our own congratulations, with wishes 
for prosperous and happy years to come: 

A large number of the friends and neighbors of the ven¬ 
erable I. T; Hutchins, called at his residence on Friday, 
the eighty-first anniversary of his birthday, to congratu¬ 
late him and show their appreciation of his worth as a 
citizen. Words can but poorly express the pleasure, hap¬ 
piness and joy of this gathering, in which the aged man 
and his worthy companion received so many tokens of 
esteem. There seemed to be but one cause for regret; the 
few hours between two o*clock and six passed too rapidly 
away. After it had been demonstrated that ample pro¬ 
vision had been made that none should go away hungry, 
Mr. Hutchins, in his own inimitable and happy manner, 
expressed to the company the' pleasure it gave him to 
receive such a call, and made remarks highly appropriate 
for the occasion. Mrs. Hall, of Westfield, during the after¬ 
noon greatly added to the intellectual enjoyment of the 
company by reading a poem peculiarly fitting to the cir¬ 
cumstances. “ Can we expect to thus meet again?” This 
inquiry cast a tinge of gloom over the hopes of the com¬ 
pany and softened its joys. 


REV. ROBERT HUTCHINS, D. D. 

The following is from a letter in the Congregationalist, 
which we publish from the fact that it speaks rather en¬ 
couragingly of one of our Windham County boys, and as 
an illustrious example of grappling with a threatening 
church debt: 

Rev. Robert Hutchins, D. D., formerly of Brooklyn, is 
settled over the First church, who logically and ably ••puts” 
his points from a platform, without notes,’pulpit or table, 
to the large congregation before him. Preaching without 
notes has, no doubt, its advantages, and is the fashion, I 
find everywhere; but I must own up to a high respect for 
the pulpit, and a lingering love for the old “ discourse,” as 
grandpa used to phrase it in the long ago. I suppose the 
decorative art supplies that element of wonder, delight 
and awe to the children of to-day, which the high pulpit 
and sounding board did to the children of the past. How 
august were the words which came down from those pul¬ 
pit heights, not a word of which we understood, or were 
expected to understand; yet they filled us with a rever¬ 
ential awe, which, after all, has a mighty influence for 
good. 

This church has a membership of 400. Six deaconesses I 




71 

noticed among its officers. In its cheerful and roomy 
chapel a large Sabbath School meets on Sunday afternoons, 
and in an adjoining room an infant class of one hundred 
or more. To build this chapel, with its adjoining rooms, 
one of which is the pastor’s study, a twenty thousand dol¬ 
lar debt was incurred, which has loaned up portentously 
ever since. There was no dodging the fact, too, that it 
grew apace. The parish felt feverish and uneasy. In one 
of those sudden spasms of pluck, which has been the sal¬ 
vation of many a good cause, the parish met a few nights 
ago, confronted and made a resolute onslaught on the 
monster, so far conquering it that nothing further is to be 
feared. 


ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF RUTH AND MARY HUTCHINS. 

Ruth and Mary Hutchins were daughters of Dr. Penuel 
Hutchins. Ruth was six, and Mary one year old. Both 
were buried in one grave. Ruth died the 9th, and Mary the 
lltli of Jan. v 1808. These lines were composed by Thomas 
Sturtevant, of Middleborough, Mass., our mother’s sister’s 
son : 

What poignant sensations pervade the torn breast/ 

When the summons of death bids the parent to mourn; 
How piercing the arrow, how keen the distress, 

When the babe from the mother’s fond bosom is torn. 

Yet as sweet consolation foi\ mourners is found 
In the book where believers find mercy revealed; 

Though our Father in heaven His children doth wound, 
His children obedient in mercy are healed. 

The ways of Omniscience, what mortal shall dare 
With reason, weak reason dim-sighted, to scan? 

Can reason with wisdom eternal compare ? 

Or God yield his Godhead to impotent man ? 

’Tis the arm of the monster, and none can elude 
The aim of the archer insatiate, or save; 

The slave and the monarch, the base and the good, 

Must enter death’s portal and kiss the cold grave. 

Here virtue exalted will find a long home; 

Here vice from her sinful delusions shall hie; 

Here juvenile blossoms no longer shall bloom; 

And infantile beauty enshrouded shall lie. 

Oh ! death, thy approaches no mortal controls; 

Thou dost the whole race in thy cold toils entwine ; 
VvTiether chilled in the regions surrounding the poles, 

Or warmed by the tropics which border the line. 



Oh ! could not this shaft which earthward was thrown— 
Which, forking like lightning, marked double its prey— 
Oh ! could not this shaft to some covert have flown, 

And lodged in the wilderness far, far away. 

Ah ! no, but how fatal and sure was thy aim; 

On two lovely victims was pointed the blow; 

Pale, breathless and cold to thy cavern they came, 

And left the fond parents to sorrow and woe. 

So droops in its beauty the morning’s sweet flower 
Which, wet with the tears a kind' heaven hath shed, 

Ere noon cheers the woodland, ’tis dried from the bower; 
And its brightest vermilion hath faded and fled. 

See beauty and loveliness sink from the sight; 

And earth opes her bosom her own to embrace: 

There lodged till the last resurrrection’s blest light; 

When saints shall awake their Redeemer to praise. 

Ye parents surviving should not sorely grieve, 

Though the clods of the valley your dear ones enshrine; 
Remember death’s summons, ye too, must receive. 

And his shroud, oh ! thou mourner, must shortly be thine. 
There yet is a mansion where death ne’ er invades, 

Where beauty and loveliness ever remain; 

Though the monster s cold bosom sweeps all to its shades, 
Yet the Lord of the mansion his power shall restrain. 

Then mourn not, dear parents, or if ye must mourn, 

Mourn in humble submission, ^ince Heaven’s in sight; 

For ye shall find mercy beyond this dark bourne, 

Through the laver of regeneration made white. 

See the Saviour Almighty expire on the cross, 

And look up rejoicing while kissing the rod; 

’Tis your Father afflicts you, submit to your loss; 

Submit to your Father, your Friend, and your God. 


DR. H. M. SPRAGUE. 

The funeral of the late Dr. H. M. Sprague was attended 
at the residence of his mother on Wednesday afternoon, a 
similar service having been held the day previous at Ford- 
ham, N. Y., where he resided at the time of his death. 
Several days previous to his death, while attending pa¬ 
tients, he received a thorough wetting, and on Friday last 
was suddenly taken ill and repaired to the House of Rest, 
a home for consumptives, of which he was the founder. 
He soon became unconscious, and died on Saturday morn¬ 
ing. A post mortem examination disclosed the cause of 
his death to be congestion of the kidneys. 



73 

The deceased was the youngest son of the late Dea. Wm. 
B. Sprague of this village, and was born in 1835. Coming 
here in early youth he became a student at the academy, 
and continued there until ready for college. Graduating 
with honor at Amherst, he chose the medical profession 
and received a thorough medical and surgical education in 
New York city. At the breaking out of the war he entered 
the regular army and continued in active duty until its 
close, the latter portion of the time being stationed in New 
York on the commission for the examination of candidates 
for surgeons in the army. He was with Gen. Lyon when 
he was killed. At the end of the rebellion he became per¬ 
manently located at Fordham, where he built up an exten¬ 
sive practice and a solid reputation. He was a man of 
sterling integrity and determined purpose, possessing a 
vigorous constitution, large fertility of resource, and great 
power of mind, his brain weighing sixty ounces. He 
leaves a wife and one child. His mother, brother, and 
other relatives now reside in our village. The death of 
one so honorable and so promising is unaccountable to 
human ken,—the good Father, that doeth all things well, 
alone knows why so strange and crushing an affliction is 
best. Having by experience and study laid the founda¬ 
tion for a life of usefulness and celebrity,the hopes of fam¬ 
ily and friends are alike destroyed in an instant. But it 
will be a source of oomfort to remember in after years that 
while he lived his life was valued and at its close he was 
sincerely mourned. 

The Yonkers Medical Association, of which he was for¬ 
merly president, sent a beautiful anchor of white flowers 
as a memento of their esteem, and delegated their secre¬ 
tary, Dr. Parsons, to accompany the remains and present 
the following resolutions to the family and relatives: 

Whereas, Death has, for the first time since its organi¬ 
zation, entered the ranks of our association and borne from 
us one of our valued members and an esteemed ex¬ 
president, Dr. H. M. Sprague, therefore be it 

Resolved, That in the death of Dr. Sprague we mourn 
the loss of a valued brother, a skillful physician, and a 
devoted student of medical science. 

Resolved, That we tender to the family and friends of 
our departed brother our heartfelt sympathy in this dark 
hour of their affliction. 

Resolved, That we attend the funeral of Dr. Sprague from 
his late residence in Fordham m a body. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the 
family of Dr. Sprague, and also published in the Medical 


74 

Record, the New York Medical Journal, and the local 
newspapers. 

, Geo. T. Jackson, President. 

John Parsons, Secretary. 


LETTER FROM MISS SMITH. 

The following letter, received by a friend of ours, we 
think worth publishing. It took seventy men to translate 
our present version of the Bible—and more than that num¬ 
ber are now engaged in the same work. These, if asked, 
would, probably, most of them, reply with Abimelict of 
old, “ Let it not be said that a woman slew me.” Is it any¬ 
thing strange, that the doctrine of “taxation without 
representation,” which was thoroughly exploded one hun¬ 
dred years ago, should be strenuously resisted by such a 
woman? Our female colleges and high schools are fast 
furnishing more of the same sort:— 

Glastonbury, Conn., May 24, 1876. 

Dear Sir: — I was in hopes to have heard from you, or 
have seen you ere this. The Bibles are all finished now, 
and we have had twenty-five copies sent us. Some of them 
have been mailed to the far-off States. We have them at 
our house, and they are for sale at the office of the Ameri¬ 
can Publishing Company, Hartford. 

We had a call from a Hebrew Professor, from Harvard 
college, who entertained us much in reading in Hebrew 
from my English version. After reading many texts from 
my translation, he pronounced them all right, which was 
indeed a satisfaction, coming, as it did, from so perfect a 
scholar. 

He took a copy of a woman’s translation of the Bible 
with him to Harvard. President Eliot’s opinion is that 
women have not so strong an intellect as men. 

We have, to pay the expenses of publication, taken out 
the last share of our Hartford bank stock, so we hope not 
to be called there again to attend another auction of it to 
pay taxes. Two such auctions, such as we have endured, 
ought to be sufficient to make a woman assert the princi¬ 
ples of forefathers, provided she is so unfortunate as to 
inherit them. Cordially yours, 


Julia E. Smith. 



75 



A Question, .... 7 

An Undelivered Temperance Address, . . 27 

A Response, .... 34 

A Story with a Moral, . . .40 

Appendix, .... 61 

Birthday Anniversary, . . .69 

Confessions of a Tobacco User, . . 11 

Cheap Postage, . . . .48 

Centennial Sketches, ... 45 

Churches and Pastors, . . .53 

Distinguished Clergymen of Windham County, 17 

Deacon Goodman Vindicated, . . .31 

Dr. H. M. Sprague, ... 72 

Election Sermons, . . . . . 46 

Eiglity-One, .... 66 

Elisha P. Hutchins, . . . .66 

Elegy on the Death of Ruth and Mary Hutchins, 71 
First Settlers, . . . .49 

Golden Wedding, .... 29 

Historical, . . . .48 

In Memorium, .... 55 

Lines at a Silver Wedding, . . .39 

Lines to Alice, .... 69 

Letter from Miss Smith, . . .74 

Mrs. Livermore, ... 8 

Miss Larned’s Retrospect, . . .42 

Miscellany, .... 50 

Manufactories, . . . .54 

Mrs. Abeline H. Hutchins, . . 64 

Maternal Ancestry of Isaac T. Hutchins, . 61 

Obituary of the Old House, . . 13 

Our Killingly Girls, . . .56 

Prohibition or Free Rum, Which ? . . 6 

Paternal Ancestry of Isaac T. Hutchins, . 61 

Political Aspects of the Country, . . 47 





76 


Rights of Christian Women, . . 38 

Remarks at a S. S. Anniversary, . . 35 

Recollections of Providence, . . 41 

Retrospective, .... 53 

Record of My Father’s Family, . . 65 

Re-Dedication, .... 58 

Record of Isaac T. Hutchins’ Family, . . 66 

Rebecca W. Hutchins, ... 63 

Rev. Robert G. Hutchins, D. D. . . 70 

Soldiers’ Monument, . . . 16 

Sabbath School Concert, . . .10 

Synopsis of a Sermon, ... 51 

The Last Execution in Windham County, . 14 

The Reformed Inebriate’s Appeal, . . 9 

The Bible in Schools, . . .5 

The Temperance Meetings, . . 8 

Thanks for a Golden Pen, . . .25 

The Past and the Present, . . 25 

The American Peace Society, . . .30 

The Elder Son, ... 33 

The Swallow and Feather, . , .59 

The Proposed Tax on Newspapers, . . 59 

William Hutchins, M. D. . . .62 





























* 












« 



































A 























































I 
















